Snowing

It is definitely Winter here in Northern Nevada.  We had snow all day Friday, then it turned to rain on Saturday, now it's Sunday and snowing once again.  I'm glad I'll be here for Christmas so I don't have to worry about traveling in this.  I guess we're going to have a white Christmas after all!

I'm looking forward to the days after Christmas.  My sister and her hubby are going down to So. Calif. for Christmas (they do every year) and then bringing my other sister back with them the day after Christmas.  I will get to see them on Tuesday (I'm taking the day off) and then hang out till Thursday.  Fun Fun Fun.

Well, I guess I should post some more pics of earrings I have

for sale on my ArtFire store:::

 
The website is http://www.tstrinkets.artfire.com/  -  I know Christmas is only 6 days away so it's getting a little too close to be ordering specialized jewelry, but I thought they looked good and just wanted to post them.

Enameled pendant

Well, I finally got around to using my kiln FOR the FIRST TIME!
It was a little intimidating -  made a little pendant.  I think for the first time EVER enameling it turned out nice.  The pics aren't too good cuz they're close up and you can see all the booboos.  But it looks nice if you're not right on top of it.
Love it!

I'm glad I got around to at least trying it.  I'm going to wrap it in Copper wire and see how it turns out.

Christmas is coming!

It's only 16 days away.  Christmas Day.  How did THAT happen??
I had a wax casting class a couple of weeks ago and made a "rose".  It was supposed to be a rose, but I don't think it is.  But it's pretty, anyway.  I cast it out of pure silver.

It was a fun project.  I'm sure I'll be making more.  I belong to a club called the Reno Gem and Mineral Society and when you are a member you can take classes there for a very reasonable price.  It's pretty much one-on-one instruction which was really good for me.

I had taken a wax casting class at a college here but there were over 25 people in the class and it was very "busy" so I didn't really have the type of instruction I really needed.  This class was wonderful!

I am pretty much a "do-it-yourself" type of person.  I learned how to make my jewelry I sell on Artfire by watching videos on the web and reading books.  I did the same thing with the wax casting, but just didn't quite understand until I did it "hands on".  I guess sometimes you have to do that.  Like my wire wrapping.  I do pretty good with that until I have to make a bail - then the wire just looks all twisted up and stupid on the top. I am taking a wire wrapping class at a bead store near my house.  The class I signed up for is for making prong rings out of wire.  I can't wait to learn that!  I'm going to take another class for wire wrapping.  Then I can make some awesome jewelry!  I have some beautiful cabochon stones that I need to wire wrap and hopefully I will learn that skill soon!  And I haven't given up on my enameling - I just haven't had time to set up my kiln and really get into it yet.  I did make a design out of copper wire and will try to make a cloisonné pendant out of copper.  I hope I don't screw it up.

In the meantime, I made some more Christmas tree chandelier earrings.  One is all red in gold and the other is black/clear crystals in silver.  I like them.

I really enjoy making them.  It's so hard to try to take good pics when the sun has refused to shine here for the last week or so.  But then, that's winter, right?

Well, Christmas shopping doesn't wait - If you know what I mean.  I gotta get out there and get some stuff done.

I'll write again~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving - Then Christmas right around the corner

Oh my gosh - what a busy time of year this is!
I won't be going home for Thanksgiving this year, I think it's the first time since I moved to Reno.  There is just too much going on.
I will miss my family but we will all be together in May when my niece gets married.

I have been busy making Christmas items for my ArtFire store.  I love making jewelry.  I just hate having to take pictures that look halfway decent and then writing descriptions.  And then trying to price the items!  I bought a program from a wonderful person that helps a lot with pricing.  And I still price my items a lot lower than is recommended by the program.  But I just keep truckin' on.

I bought some really great teardrop shaped earring findings that work so well with my little Swarovski Christmas trees I make!  They are so cute and a fellow ArtFire artisan added them to her Christmas collection (which is really nice and a great honor for me!)  here's a pic of them:

Click on the picture to go to the item in my store.

They're kind of nice, don't you think?  They are available at my ArtFire store, www.tstrinkets.artfire.com.   I will have these earrings in different tree colors and wire colors soon.  Just keep checking.

I also made my little Christmas Penguin again this year, but this year I put him on a keychain.  I thought he would be more versatile that way:

Here he is, all ready for action!

I just love my Christmas bracelet - I don't know if I even want to sell it.  What do you think?

Click on the picture to go to the item in my store.

These items are all available at  www.tstrinkets.artfire.com.  Come have a look at these and my other handmade creations.

Got to get going-- I'll be writing again soon.

Making some more jewelry

Well, I got a custom order from my sister.  I'm making her a "Mother's Pendant", actually I'm making her two.  One for her and one for her mother-in-law.  It's a very enjoyable thing to do.
The mother's pendants are a big hit (at least with my family) because, as my mother says, "No matter who else gets one, they are all unique.  One of a kind.  Because no one, anywhere, will have the same children and grandchildren born in the same order".  That's a nice thought.  I never thought of it like that before, but she is absolutely right.  I guess it depends on the amount of kids you have, though.  I only have one son, born in July.  My older sister has two daughters, also both born in July.  My older sister and I were both born in the month of August.  Now, had she stopped after her first daughter, well, I guess our Mother's Pendants would be identical.
But the older generation, the ones who had at least four kids, well, that's a different story.  My mother has six children and nine grandchildren.  Her pendant is very special and unique.  My sister-in-law has four children.  Also a special and unique pendant.

It just depends on the kids you have and the number of grandkids, I guess.  But people do like the pendants.

Come see some for yourself - at my ArtFire store :  www.tstrinkets.artfire.com.  You will love them.

End of September ALREADY

Hello -  No, I didn't get lost on my vacation (three months ago --)  I've been busy trying to set up a website and making jewelry, and a lot of other stuff going on.
I sometimes put too many eggs in my basket.
I'm just writing to keep up.
Oh, my new website is www.tstrinkets.homestead.com.  I like how it turned out.  I'm not too website creating savvy, but I had a lot of fun getting it put together.

Mom and Dad are coming up to Reno to visit next week.  It's going to be fun.
I'll have to write later.

Hitting the road

Well, today is the day.  I've gotten up just slightly after the birds (it's 4:58am) and will be jumping in the shower shortly.  I want to leave by 6am.  Then I should arrive in So Cal by 3pm, or 4 at the latest.  I'm pretty much prepared.  Just have to pack my "toiletries" after the shower. 
As I said earlier, I have my GPS all ready to go, then I got a bluetooth (since you can't talk on your cell phone in Calif.) -
The coffee was set last night and all ready for me this morning.  That is soooo nice.  Didn't have to wait for it to perk.  I went to bed at 9:30 last night but had a tough time sleeping.  I guess I'm a little nervous to be driving down to Calif by myself, but I'll do okay.  I really do prefer to drive than to fly.  The airports are just so prohibiting nowadays.  Gotta get there an hour early, check in, just sit around, get on the plane, sit another 20 minutes to 1/2 hour, finally take off, blah blah blah --   then you land.  Gotta get a shuttle bus to your destination, that takes another hour or so, what a drag.  So driving is for me.  At least this trip.  I'll stop off in Bishop, CA (that's about 1/2 way down) and go to Schat's Bakery-  they have great fresh baked bread, and make really good sandwiches.  I'm gonna buy Mom and Dad a little something there.  But Bishop is also the beginning of the ugly part of the trip -  when you start getting out of the mountain/green area and into the desert part of California.  I guess that can be pretty, too, but there isn't much to look at there.  Then on home to the O.C.

I'm excited and nervous.  I'll miss my house and my Hubby and my dogs.  The old familiarity.  But then I'll get to my old homestead and see my parents, my sisters (maybe even my brothers?) and have a good time.  It's gonna be a great vacation. 

Well, talk to y'all later - 

Getting ready for my vacation

Well, I have about four days until I hit the road and drive down to So Cal to visit the family.  I'm a little nervous about driving down there by myself -- I guess the older I get, the less adventurous I become.  I bought myself a Magellan GPS so I don't get lost and rejoined Triple AAA just in case I get stuck somewhere.  So I think I'm pretty much set.  I figure it will take me about 9-10 hours to get there.  I can't decide what time I'm leaving - but I'll figure that out by Friday, I'm sure.
So, Mom and Dad -  Look out - I'm gonna be on my way!

I'll miss my pups and my hubby, but sometimes you just have to go, you know?

Guess that's it for now.  I know, boring, but I like to just sit and type sometimes.  It's "good for the soul". 

Friday - My "Sunday"

Well, I officially posted my newsletter out there for the world to see.  I hope it helps with my sales. 
I am looking forward to my vacation coming up, next Friday I will be on my way to So Cal to see the fam.  Can't wait.  I'm driving all by myself and got myself a GPS to help along the way.  I grew up there and knew it all by heart, but now I need a little help -  I got lost last time (that was embarassing!) -
At least this time I will have my own car and not have to use Mom's.

Yep, going to see Dad for Father's Day.  How fun is that?

Talk at ya later

T's Trinkets July - August 2010 Newsletter

Newsletter for July, August 2010

As I am sending this to everyone in the middle of June, I have decided to add a little bit about June in this newsletter, too.

June is the official first month of the Summer, the season for outdoors – Bar-b-ques, tans, beach, fun!

The official birthstone for the month of June is the pearl, and the alternate birthstone is the Light Amethyst (according to the Swarovski Birthstone chart). I have some beautiful creations utilizing these stones. Please visit my website for a look! http://www.tstrinkets.artfire.com/

The pearl is an organic gem, formed inside mollusks such as oysters and mussels. Pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection and luck.


The amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness and the gemstone still symbolizes sobriety. (Isn’t that interesting?)

***********************************************************
Of course, the month of July brings us our Nation’s birthday! I have some new items for just this special holiday in our county. Earrings and bracelets in our country's colors of red, white and blue.

For those celebrating a birthday in July or those who want to purchase a special jewelry item for a July “baby”, I have created some wonderful jewelry in July’s birthstone, the Ruby. These are created with Swarovski ruby colored crystals. Buy a pair of beautiful ruby earrings for a loved one, or for yourself ~~ who doesn’t love the fire red sparkle of a ruby colored crystal! These would look wonderful during the Christmas season, too!

Did you know it has been said that the Ruby’s red glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love? Ancient lore has it that the Ruby will bring good fortune to its wearer, too.

Now, the month of August. What can we say about August? The month of no special holidays. The dead hot middle of summer. I remember August as the month of, well, having been out of school for about 1-1/2 months, then just kind of wishing school would start again. Being kind of bored, you know?

But August does bring us a beautiful birthstone, the Peridot. This stone is a lovely lime-green color that can be worn with stunning results. I love the color.

For those born in August, it’s good to know that your birthstone is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace and success, and its powers include health, protection and sleep. (And who can’t use a little more sleep, huh?) It is also thought to dispel negative emotions. I guess everyone could benefit from the wearing of peridot.

Check out my peridot creations on my website.

http://www.tstrinkets.artfire.com/

Thanks for taking the time to read my first newsletter. I hope you found it interesting and even a little educational.