Opportunites!

I never underestimate the power of friends and networking!  I was recently asked to design several pieces of jewelry to accompany a line of clothing for the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts spring fashion show.  What an honor to be asked to design some ReMaryd Original jewelry to accompany CABi clothing for local CABi sales person, Mary McCallum.

I worked for several days putting together just the right items for the outfits that were to be worn during the fashion show.  It all turned out wonderful.  I met several wonderful women and passed out business cards.  I forget how much fun it is to spend time in an art atmosphere with some amazing women and great fashion!

This is a piece that I made out of an old sandal and put together with a chain of pearls and vintage chunky black chain!  Before and after....

Keeping the Creative Juices Flowing

It is hard if you do not "craft for a living" to find time to make and create.  I do work full time, but somehow I find a few minutes several times a week to finish up repairs or create new jewelry pieces for my friends or my Etsy Shop.

I follow a few blogs of other Green Crafters, Jewelry Crafters, Crafty Friends and others that seem to balance their on-line shops, blogs, Twitter and home life.  I really enjoy reading about these creative-beings who are focused on making something new, finding a good deal and feeding their internal artist.

My studio/basement corner sometimes seems overwhelming before I have an idea in mind, but just sitting down at my table or looking through craft ideas or jewelry making magazines will help me focus in on what needs to be accomplished.  I usually start out by directing all of my energy on one particular item, bead, pendant, picture or project and then let it take me where it will.  I look forward to exploring my other bloggers ideas, examples and/or project ideas...and challenge myself to get my rear end into my studio/basement corner to have some creative alone time!!!

Back to Repurposing

Finding just the right accent for a necklace is sometimes a process of trial and error!  I made a springy-necklace a few weeks back for a friend of mine, but the accent piece I created just wasn't doin' it for me.  So, I have taken several pieces of tulle, cut out circles, added glitter glue to the edges, heated the edges to curl them up and then added a vintage clip earring to the middle.  I like the way this looks...but we will see once I add it to the necklace...stay tuned for updates!

Mother Runners

Making bracelets from new products isn't usually what I like to do, but sometimes...I make an exception.  These are bracelets that I made for a girlfriend.  She gave me a description of a bracelet that she had seen, but had not been able to find on-line again.  I worked with another Etsy Artisan, PetitePieces to have her make the stamped tags and I did the rest.  I just love to make people happy by having a special piece of jewelry to wear!  Hope you enjoy ladies.

The Compliment Necklace

I found the square rhinestone piece of this necklace in a bag of junk jewelry given to me by a friend.  This is a weighty little square and has TONS of sparkle.  I am not sure if it was a broken pin or earring, but I fell in love with it when I laid eyes on it.  In fact, I have held on to it for years.  I would come across it every once in awhile and say, "I really would like to do something with this, but, what?".  Finally, I added a mix of purple pearls and black czech beads for a necklace chain and kept it extremely simple with a magnetic clasp.  This necklace really isn't for sale...since I LOVE TO WEAR IT.  Plus, it gets me plenty of compliments.  This is more of a marketting piece for me, since people want to then talk about it after they ask me where I got it.  I love to tell them, "I made it"!

"Make New Friends, But Keep the Old....One is Silver and the Other Gold"

As a Girl Scout that phrase was part of a campfire song that, somehow, I still remember to this day.  Maybe it is due to the fact that it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE.  Although, your old friends are incredibly important, making new friends and new connections is always sheds light on the rest of the world and how exciting it is to see it from someones viewpoint.  My end game in writing this blog is just to say how lucky and grateful I really am for all of the wonderful friends that I have in my life and to the new friends that I meet along the way!  One old/new friend shares the love of art and artistry...this is my official shout out to PocketFox and her ability to create and make things around her beautiful!  Check her out on Etsy.com!

The Earrings Last Stand...

Well, it is finished.  I have successfully turned two gigantic earrings that were not being worn into...a smaller, more wearable earring set, an eclectic pin and an amazing necklace!  The world is a brighter place when I am recreating!!