Cleaning up my space

When I move back east from Vancouver BC, my sister open a small artisan boutique.

She needed some jewelry made and I bought supply like crazy. After a few months, I saw that the other’s artisans were making similar pieces. So, I change a bit my style to big and funky ….

When she sold the boutique due to illness, I saw similar thing in art show, so I started to play more with wire and copper pieces. I just found my passion ….love working with copper and hammering the metal and playing with the torch.

So, before I am getting my feet wet and buy more copper sheets and tools, I am cleaning my stash of small beads and some findings, I have triple of  this and that  LOL……

I am selling the findings in one bundle and the beads in another bundle or the 2 bundles together …..The price is way down of what I paid for …. I just want to get rid of it to peoples who will appreciate all that stuff at a bargain price.

 $120.00 of beads ( let go for 30.00 )

If you want to make a better offer, let me know, I won’t bite. :O)

For the ceramic beads from Portugal, I am selling the whole lot.

+shipping.

Please, tell your friends about this .Thank you.

Beads

Czech (Black beads -20)

Glass with foil inside (55)

Czech green flower, Big (11)

                 “        “     Small (10)

           Colorful, tiny (20+)

           Rose, big (12)

Gold glass Rectangle (22)

Glass hearth with foil, 2 colors (8)

Cat eyes (peaches, grey and blue colors) small and medium (30+)

Cat eyes, black (25)

Glass (chevron, red and orange) (14)

Colorful glass beads (10)

Pearls green (30+)

Volcanic (7)

Black beads (6)

Sea shell (6)

Sea shell (17)

Lake shell ((13)

18mm Wood beads from the Philippine (10)

Sebucao wood from Philippine -beads-assorted (16)

Wood beads from Indonesia

Chalcedony faceted beads (10)       Abalone (4)

Ceramic beads from Portugal a colorful box    $35.00(let go for 15.00)

Sorry,the findings are sold  (this is for the one who saw the blog at the beginning)

Chocolat and Turquoise Collection

Chocolat and Turq...

Curated By: zoomgraphik

ArtFire.com

A Collection from the guild Checked In Today 

We are a mother (Theresa) and daughter (Liz) team of artists and crafters. We create arts and crafts for the spirit. Our goal is to match each creation with the individual for whom it was designed. Spirit works in mysterious ways sometimes to bring about those matches.



I am Theresa, the "mom" half of this team. I am also know as Sóbhrag among my shamanic community. My first venture into crafts was as a teenager, when I discovered I could augment my wardrobe by making my own clothes. I considered sewing a practical skill, not a talent or an art. You see, I was not artistic or creative. At least, that's what I grew up believing.



Jewelry making is an out-growth of my life-long love and fascination with rocks. When I started on the shamanic path, I realized that stones had always been speaking to me; but I had not learned how to listen. I had made jewelry, at times, over the years to accessorize special outfits for myself and the kids. I had the skills; and now I had the reason. It became my passion to create things that were both aesthetically pleasing and spiritually meaningful.



You can Find Danu's Treasure Trove on"

Etsy

Facebook

Blog





Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com

Dallas Soap Company

This week's Featured Artisan is Pamela Mallow - Dallas Soap Company! Yummy delights to indulge yourself!

Dallas Soap Company is proud to offer you handmade soaps, premium bath & body products, along with a complete line of home fragrance products. We use only the highest quality ingredients and fragrance oils.

Formerly Decadent de'Lights. Same great products...but we moved and have a new name! Decadent de'Lights is now our line of candles and home fragrance products.

Being a candle enthusiast, I started my business back in 1999 and slowly began developing a complete line of home fragrance and bath & body products. I am currently a homeschool mom and the owner of Dallas Soap Company. I pride myself in offering top quality products at the best possible prices, while providing outstanding customer service. We appreciate you as a customer and want you to be happy!





You can find Dallas Soap Company on:




Website

Etsy

Facebook

Today Artisan is ~ CreationsWithHeart ~

OUF!!!   I am so late with FEATURING THE ARTISAN OF THE WEEK .....no excuse I been a bit lazy :O(

I meet wonderful artisans through blogs, facebook groups , artfire and Etsy .....

Today Artisan of the day is , Creations With Heart .

I love her exclusive paw print jewellery, being a dog lover too.

Julie designed unique, handmade jewellery and bringing it to you, since 2006.

Her jewellery is meaningful, memorable and timeless to keep for countless years!

In addition to her paw print jewellery you can find her inspirational and military designs. Gemstones, crystals, sterling and pewter are just a few materials she enjoys working with.

A portion of the proceeds from every piece of jewellery Julie sell, she will be donating to help the animals. It's something Julie like to do to help our furry friends that need and depend on us. You'll be helping too!

You can also Julie here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CreationsWithHeart

http://creationswithheart.com
http://creationswithheart.com/blog
http://creataionswithheart.blogspot.com


Follow Julie on Facebook and Twitter .

http://facebook.com/CreationsWithHeart
http://twitter.com/CreationsWHeart

Artisan Today ~Georgiamarbles~

Georgiamarbles has been sewing most of her life. She love creating unique items and can usually be found at hers sewing machine (or at the computer chatting). Georgia helps her daughter run her dance studio where she enjoys making tutus for the dancers.

All of her aprons are made using a unique pattern that Georgia created to fit almost everyone.

Most of her aprons are OOAK simply because most of her fabrics have been donated to her.
Georgia is a FABRICHOLIC....

She thoroughly enjoys selling on etsy! Georgia loves the people and the satisfaction of making things for others.

She is a happy lady with 6 grandchildren’s and she is married to SANTA for 39 years.

 

Also, Georgia love old treasures, so she opens another Etsy shop with the name Vintage Marbles.

You can find luggage, brass, glassware, dolls, cards, china and more!

You can see more of Georgia work here: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/georgiamarbles

http://vintagemarbles.etsy.com 

http://facebook.com/georgiamarbles

http://georgiamarbles.blogspot.ca/

Are you On Fire for Handmade?
http://onfireforhandmade.com

This weeks' Featured Artisan is Georgia Groves... georgiamarbles. A taste of the past with her delicious aprons and darling dolls! You can find georgiamarbles on:

Etsy

Facebook

Blog




Grab the code for your site HERE

Julia and Cori ~artisans this week~

2 Busy Ladies  "Julia and Cori"

Two best friends, trying their hand at a home business, designing, making and selling hair bows and accessories for your little blessings!  

Julia

Julia is the Bow Queen!  She is the designer, maker and owner of Blue Eyed Blessings Hair bows! 

Julia is the mother of a 6 year old twin boys and two-3 year old little girls. They are truly blessings. Julia still works 1 or 2 days a week as a critical care nurse. Her hands are full LOL….

Julia has always loved crafting!  Before having kids she quilted all the time…when the kids were babies…she moved onto knitting…she started up scrapbooking…and now as the girls are really getting into dressing up and wearing their ‘pretties’ she has started making their bows and have enjoyed it so much!  Julia is excited to share some of them with you!

Cori

Cori is the social media guru!  She runs the blog, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter account and advertises for Blue Eyed Blessings!

Cori is a college student studying Social Media Communication at the University of Washington.  Many of you may know her as the owner and writer of Cori’s Big Mouth blog. In addition to school, she works part time as a nanny to 3 year old triplets, loves shopping, talking, scrapbooking and hanging out with friends & family!

Julia & Cori

So how do Julia & Cori know each other?  Cori was Julia’s nanny, or “Papa’s helper” when she went back to work.  Cori came over and helped dad with the twins when they were babies.  Overtime they have become great friends. They’ve always love scrapbooking and doing crafts together, so they were excited to embark on a new challenge….bow making!

You can find theses 2 ladies here:

http://twitter.com/#!/blueeyedbows
http://www.facebook.com/BlueEyedBlessings
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueEyedBlessings
http://www.blueeyedblessings.com/

Oxidize Brass- I Can Do That *The next chapter.

I will try to give you my .02 cents of advice as I am learning new tools, techniques etc…. I think it will be fun to see it from a beginner” point of view” and hope it will help others in the process.

Number #1

I cut some little disk with a disk cutter; Love it, fast and easy.

Then I hammer those little things, I hit it so hard the side was all squish OPSSS…. Better go easy next time, they say to practice before you do a piece and it is true, but I think you are wasting good metal. (I wasted a lot)

My motto, hand made is not perfect, it has character.

Another suggestion, I use a metal punch to make holes in the disk. It work really good BUT, I find it useless, you cannot see inside the disk where you have mark your little dots for the holes. My next purchase is 2 sizes hand punches.

Number #2

Oxidize Brass.

This is more like fume oxidation

I will try different method and let you know my .02 cents.

For this one, I use household Ammonia

Using household ammonia is really quite easy and is an inexpensive way to oxidize brass. I have tried this method on finished pieces that included my gems and it work good.

All you need is a clean glass jar with a lid, a piece of wire or fishing line to suspend your piece and ammonia. It is a little smelly but if you are quick it should be no problem. I use lemon scent and it’s not that bad.  At no time should the metal or finished jewellery come in physical contact with the ammonia. It is the fumes that will produce this patina.

First clean your piece of brass with alcohol to remove any oils or dirt so that the patina is consistent throughout the piece. Do not touch the surface that you want patinated.

Pour about 1 inch of Ammonia in a pint or quart size glass jar.

Screw on the lid and wait a couple hours. You can check the piece to see what color you want to stop at. I check every 15 minutes to see what color I wanted…it is a bit brown but it will be up to you to see how deep color you are looking for.

There will not be any ammonia odor to your piece but if you want you can leave it out for a while and very gently buff out any high points for contrast.

That's it! Try it its fun and easy

.

Before

 and After

                                                                      

 

RED ROSES CAKES ~Today Artisan!

 

I am addicted to chocolate since I can remember, so I am writing this blog and I want to eat everything I see. LOL….

Heather is behind Red Rose Cakes with her family.

Red Roses, started in 2010, it was a long standing dream of owning her own shop with the inspiration of her husband, now she can live and breathe her chocolate dream. Yummy!!

With nearly 20 years experience in the cake industry, Heather now creates special occasion cakes by her own rules with designs that span from the basic to the truly intense.  During her time in retail she trained a number of inexperienced men and women in to cake decorators and continues to show tips, tricks and tutorials today.

With a love of old school cake decorating, most of the creations are created from icing versus modern fondant and if the element can be crafted from chocolate, it will be!

Red Rose Cakes offers a wide variety of cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more and if there is something that you wish and it can be created, ask and you will receive.  For their virtual customers, Heather ship cookies, candies, chocolates and barks to our far away friends with the same homemade love and feeling as if you came to our door to pick them up.

Every time, I see the chocolate cookies or candy she make’s I wish Heather live near my house LOL...

Peoples in Northwester Pennsylvania, you are lucky, Heather provides pick up service for her customers, so please give them a call.

You can see Heather Creations here:

http://redrosecakesconnection.blogspot.com/
http://www.redrosecakespittsburgh.com/
http://www.facebook.com/RedRoseCakes
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/RedRoseConfections

BAILEYS IRISH CREAM CAKE COLLECTION

This is my first collection for the guild ~Checked In Today~ .....We have lots of talented artisans in here.

Also ,I am posting this simple Baileys Irish cream cake recipe ...fast  to make and Yummy .

BAILEYS IRISH CRE...

Curated By: zoomgraphik

BAILEY'S IRISH CREAM CAKE  

   
2 c. flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 egg
2/3 c. salad oil
3/4 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur
1 c. hot strong coffee

Sift dry ingredients together. Beat egg, oil, buttermilk, liqueur, coffee together. Add to the dry ingredients; beat together for about 3 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 10" springform pan or 9"x13" pan.

Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 35 to 40 minutes for springform or 25 to 30 minutes for 9"x13" pan or until done. Cool.

FROSTING:

2 c. heavy cream
1/4 - 1/2 c. powdered sugar
4 tbsp. Bailey's Irish Cream, or more to taste

Beat frosting ingredients together until stiff. Turn cake out onto a plate and frost with whipped cream mixture. Sprinkle with chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate.