Where does the time go?

Standard cliche - but I truly cannot believe that December has snuck up on me yet again. Sigh. Since I have not kept up with my blog, I decided to write a sort of rambling post today and just sprinkle some pictures of recent designs I have made here and there. Some have sold, and others are still available.

Copper Flower Post Earrings

Sterling and Copper Flower Post Earrings 

I had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year! We hosted my sister and her family, and it was truly enjoyable! Although, anytime you add a child to the mix (Gavin is 2 years and 3 months old), it always increases the fun. The past year has held so much negativity, politically speaking, that it was simply refreshing. I look forward to Christmas when my house will hold even more little ones!

Fold Formed Sterling Leaf and Lapis Lazuli Necklace

 

I opened up my own website a while ago, through Indiemade. In the meantime, I have kept my Etsy shop, which basically has the same items. I opened my own website when Etsy first allowed manufactured items, versus handmade. It was hard choice for me, as I am not all that computer literate and starting a brand new site was so time consuming. While there were lots of negatives to Etsy, there were also lots of positives. 

Heavy Gauge Twisted Sterling Silver Bangle

I recently read in a Facebook forum where a woman had an item from her shop "yanked" by the legal team of Etsy, stating the title of her necklace was subjected to copyright infringement.  She has been making this same necklace for years and has sold many. The fact that Etsy can pull an item/suspend it from your shop with no feedback from you really irritates me to no end.

Set of 3 Stacking Bracelets, with Turquoise (sold)

Etsy also has two payment methods for Seller's to offer to their customers - PayPal or Direct Checkout.  With Direct Checkout, the customer simply uses a credit card without going through PayPal. The Seller, however, does not actually receive the funds for a minimum of 3 days. Example: Customer purchases through Direct Checkout on Monday. On Tuesday, IF I REMEMBER, I have to instruct Etsy to deposit the funds immediately. I would receive the funds in my chosen bank account by close of business Wednesday (available to me on Thursday).  If the seller forgets to instruct Etsy to deposit the funds immediately, they are deposited to the seller's account in 7 days. This irritates me! Why should Etsy have use of the seller's funds for ANY amount of time? 

Rainbow Fluorite Bracelet (sold)

Lapis Lazuli and Cloissione Bracelet (sold)

When an item is listed for sale in Etsy, there is a $0.20 listing fee, plus a nominal fee is kept by Etsy if the item is sold. Items are listed for 90 days...they then expire, and the seller has to pay an additional $0.20 to relist the item. It does not sound like a lot of fees...but it adds up!

Sapphire and Sterling Silver Ring

I have had only a few sales on Etsy this past year. So, I have decided not to relist any items that expire. By March, my Etsy shop will be empty.

Onward!

For the past few months, I have gone crazy using Pattern Sterling Silver wire. I am a lover of texture, and this wire is amazing,

Patterned Sterling Silver Bangle

  

Patterned Sterling Silver Earrings

Patterned Sterling Silver Earrings

Some of the wire available is square - this is some thick wire! Not always easy to manipulate, but I was determined!

Pattern Sterling Silver Earrings - Square Wire (sold)

Pattered Sterling Silver Earrings - Square Wire (sold)

Pattern Sterling Silver Hoops (sold)

Triple Hoop Earrings with Pattern Sterling Silver Wire

I have also enjoyed playing with stamps. I do not have a proper anvil, but I did recently purchase a 12" piece of railroad track that has significantly improved my stamping.  That long, flat surface of hardened steel is so much better than my little 3" x 3" bench block.

Tiger's Eye and Garnet Stamped Sterling Silver Necklace

Artisan Glass Cabochon and Stamped Sterling Silver Necklace

I have not participated in a craft show for several years now - my chronic spine and neck issues just cannot handle all that stress.  So, I have relied solely on online sales.  My sincere gratitude to my online customers.  I had the best November sales EVER - and Miracle Horse Rescue received every last dollar! This warms my heart --- the support of handmade and ultimately, the equines of MHR!

Justice!

Stephanie (R), Me,and Dusty!

Luna and Millie

One last plea...if you are so inclined!  Here are the residents of Miracle Horse Rescue under the wonderful care of Stephanie and Rob Pierce.  The horse of your choice would love to receive a Christmas Card to decorate their barn this season!

If you are still with me here ... THANK YOU! And as always, thank you so much for stopping by! I wish you all Peace during this most special Holiday Season!

XO

Patti

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

Okay ... so I lied on my last post and have been lax (again!) at updating this personal space of mine. Sigh.  First of all... I have so very much to be grateful for, and I wish you and yours a heartfelt, peaceful, and Happy Thanksgiving!

I am also having a quick BLACK FRIDAY sale in both my online website (here) and Etsy (here). Receive 25% off your total purchase (minimum purchase of $30.00) through Friday evening, November 25th (11:59 PM).  Use coupon code THANKFUL at checkout.

Remember - all proceeds are donated to Miracle Horse Rescue!

Have a wonderful day!  And if you do dare to go out among the masses on Black Friday...please be safe!

XO

Patti

Proof that Artists have the kindest hearts!

by Patti Vanderbloemen

Over the past few years, I have been blessed with beads and charms, donated to me by fellow artists. I donate all proceeds from my jewelry to Miracle Horse Rescue, and these artists - many of whom make these beads as their full time job - selflessly give these beads to me (a source of income for them!) in the hopes that I can create a piece of jewelry to benefit the horses. Jan Onipenco is one of these artists.

Today, I would like to share a different kind of donation.  Jan recently took up the art form of needle felting.  While I have seen images of these darling 3-D creations on the Internet, I was totally baffled as to how they are created.  So, I googled "Needle Felting" and was entranced by this process! 

In totally simplified terms, needle felting uses a sharp needle to turn wool roving into 3-D objects. The wool is agitated - with this fine needle - so that it sticks together, creating a solid fabric. While I have not tried this art form (yet!), the creativity in the final product is only limited by the imagination of the artist.

Well, Stephanie and Rob of Miracle Horse Rescue recently had a new addition to the family --- his name is Dusty!  Here is a recent picture of Dusty - with Emma (the beautiful little girl who now has a necklace with her name on it!)  Emma is Stephanie's grand daughter - she has the most contagious smile!  Millie - Dusty's mom - is also in the background, too!

And, here is Dusty's replica, completely handcrafted by Jan.

He is ADORABLE!

The auction for this beautiful work of art starts online today (June 24) and runs through Sunday (June 26).  If you are so inclined, please stop by the Miracle Horse Rescue Face Book page (link here)  and place a bid!

Now...Jan did not stop with her generous donation of "Dusty". An artist with many facets, she recently began her journey of making jewelry pendants and charm from resin, with gorgeous inclusions of nature, prints, and other decorations.

The two below are my favorites - :)

I am going to attempt (key word!) to bezel set these pendants in sterling for necklaces and/or possibly a bracelet - I also see a pair of earrings in the making!

I am forever grateful to the artist community for their generosity - THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH JAN!!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

xo

Patti

It was the Middle of Winter...

by Patti Vanderbloemen

The last time I blogged (6+ weeks), it was Winter.  Yesterday was the first day of Spring.  My how time flies! :)  

Well, I have managed to create a few things here and there. The little series of photos to follow were taken from my I-Phone, so not necessarily the best quality!

I made another ring with a cone-style setting with a beautiful CZ (cubic zirconia) in a flashy clear color. The band is made from some leftover silver that I previously etched.  Although I will probably never wear it (I am lucky if I remember to shove a pair of earrings in my ears before I leave the house!), I made it for my personal stash.

There is a little, 10mm sterling silver concho soldered to the bottom.

Next up - again, for my personal stash, is a pendant made with a pretty malachite gemstone.  I had never bezeled anything other than a round or oval stone, so I considered it "practice".

I managed to saw a little heart in the backplate, and the bail is a piece of sterling tubing that is large enough to change out the chain.

The collage below features pieces I have made which incorporate patterned sterling silver wire.  I just wrote a blog post about these pieces for Love My Art Jewelry (link here, if you care to take a gander over there). This wire is quite substantial, and to be honest, it has been in my stash for well over a year, waiting for me to make a ring shank.

Other baubles that have crossed my bench include a few pair of earrings.

Last week, I made a series of five sterling silver hollow beads, graduated in size. These have been stamped for texture.

I went back and forth on what to make with these. I really had a necklace in mind, so I pulled out all of my artisan lampwork and ceramic beads, then I had gemstones laying all around the sterling. Nothing spoke to me.  So, I made a bracelet instead.

The first attempt included highly textured sterling silver spacers, flanking the three larger beads...but I did not like it.  So I took it apart and now, just hollows! This was also the first time I made twisted silver link chain. 

I will always struggle with taking pictures of my sterling pieces - if you look closely - my mug shot appears on those beads!  50 pictures - that's how many shots I took of that bracelet, and my face is in every single picture! :)

I spent some time shopping online last week for new cabochons, and this hit my mail box on Saturday (sorry again - quick picture with my I-Phone). Look at the flash in the Labradorite and Abalone! I have never had good luck buying Labradorite (with flash) online - usually, the stones do not have that flash-just an abundance of gray. These are from Irene's shop Iwooshop on Etsy (link here). That is not a large cabachon...maybe I will get that ring made!

If you have ever read my blog, you know that my heart belongs to animals. Well, Miracle Horse Rescue suffered a loss last week - Levi died peacefully in his sleep - he was almost 33 years old.  He had been with Stephanie and Rob for the past 12 years, so you know he was loved on daily. Rest In Peace, sweet Levi!

On the bright side, Millie is in foal and is about to have her baby ... any minute now! Stephanie loves on her daily and has reported that she has the sweetest disposition! She is a recent arrival at MHR, taken in from not so perfect conditions. My deepest gratitude to MHR for taking care of each and every horse at their facility.

So...that brings me to this...I am hosting a sale on both my sites (my website or Etsy). Need to raise funds for MHR and this is the only way I know how!

Thanks so very much for stopping by today - I hope to not take as long to blog again! :)

xo

Patti