Pictures of a design in Progress, and today's new etsy listing: Statement Earrings in green and red.

So yesterday turned out hectic. By the time I got home it was getting too dark to take product photographs. I did get them done today though, and I'll space out listing over a couple of days.
Here's the first, A midwinter Christmas/Christmas in July inspired pair of large silver hoops with green glass beads and a red and gold acrylic center bead:

Statement Earrings. Green and red beaded silver hoops. 

And here is a picture of a prototype simple wirewrapped ring I'm working on. Quite a long way off 'production' yet, as you can see:

Musings of a home-based small business owner

After yesterday's complete lack of inspiration I've made up for it tonight. 1 greenstone/pounamu pin and a pair of enormous green, red, and gold beaded hoop earrings. They're definitely real 'statement jewelry! I'll do a batch of photos tomorrow and get them listed, along with some other pieces that are ready for sale.

I'm really chuffed as I pulled a profit for this month. I opened in late January, but then almost immediately had to go on hiatus as my father became very ill and was in hospital for 6 weeks. After that it took awhile to get back into the swing of things. But we're on track now, and heading in the right direction. My dream is that eventually, several years down the track, that this will be my main job, and however distant that may seem, I'm working towards that goal. Goodness knows how many hours I'm working all up at the moment, between my main day job and my budding business. The usual story, isn't it, during the start-up years. Because I enjoy it, it doesn't seem like work, even the behind the scenes 'dogwork'.

Winter Cometh

It's cold here, and I must admit to a lack of inspiration. One of my fingers has split, which makes jewelry making uncomfortable, especially paired with freezing numb hands.

I've been playing around with wirework, and made another pair of earrings to list. I'm working on perfecting a beaded wirework ring design, but it's not quite 'there' yet, and I also plan to make and list some embroidered pendants soon. In the meantime I've been working on my shop SEO.

Right, well I'm off to hibernate, see you all in spring...or tomorrow.

Greenstone/Pounamu/Nephrite Jade

This morning I had a rare Saturday where I was home and had nothing planned, so I popped to one of the city’s Saturday markets. Lots going on. Stalls of all kinds over several streets. I picked up a small bag(about 3/4’s of the size of a pack of cards) of cut greenstone(New Zealand Jade, Pounamu) pieces. Most are various sizes of rectangle, square, with a couple of long thin pieces. They’re undrilled and I’m thinking to wirewrap them into earrings and small pendants. I’ve made one into a very simple pin so far. Pounamu, or nephrite jade, historically has significance to Maori(the first people to colonise New Zealand between 900-1400, and considered to be indigenous). It’s very common for people to wear carved greenstone pendants, as they have special meaning. Different designs also have different meanings.

A couple of links for more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounamu

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/pounamu-jade-or-greenstone

Clare

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OceanicBeads

Brown/Gold/Pink Art Glass Dangle Earrings

Link: Brown/Gold/Pink Art Glass Dangle Earrings

Todays featured listing: These Brown/Gold/Pink Abstract Art Glass Dangle Earrings feature a large Brown/Gold/Pink abstract glass bead. The earwires are goldtone.

Calla Lily Lampwork Bead Making

Link: Calla Lily Lampwork Bead Making

Making a Calla Lily glass lampwork bead. Film created by Judy Minot of WaLa Productions.
This is how the lampwork beads in my Spring Flowers lampwork earrings were made: https://www.etsy.com/listing/151588927/green-yellow-and-pink-spring-lampwork?ref=shop_home_active

Stunning Crimson Red Czech Glass Drop Earrings

Link: Stunning Crimson Red Czech Glass Drop Earrings