2010 Happenings!

OK back to business at hand. I made a plan and scheduled a time to sit and catch up on a few JBird's Garden happenings because it all gets behind me so fast.

First thing is my first show of the year which will be Feb. 13th at the Upstage Artisan Alley in the Waterloo Arts District. This show will benefit a non-profit professional children's theatre group run by an all volunteer staff near Cleveland, Ohio. Anyone who lives nearby please stop in for some Valentine shopping and to support a great group!


I thought I might have to pull a double duty having also applied to another show the very same weekend. I had it all covered just in case, but found out today that I wasn't accepted to this one. I pretty much expected this as I am a new member to the organization that is part of putting this on and also because there are soooooooooo many jewelry vendors! It's fine...Upstage Artisan might be small...but it's mighty!

JBird's Garden also has several ads and booths in virtual shops for the month of February. One of my absolute favorites ''The Handmade Gift Guide" is having a Valentine's Day Sale beginning tomorrow Jan. 28th thru Feb 1st. Another really wonderful site Handmade Jewelry Designers Showcase will have an amazing showcase that I'm really excited about.

Other sites that JBird's Garden can be found on in the month of February include The Handmade Craft Show and On Fire For Handmade. I love all these sites and am so excited to be included among such amazing talent!


I've made some much needed purchases this month. It became clear to me right from the git-go that the black jewelry displays did my natural brass necklaces no favors! The brass almost totally disappears against the black velvet so they (the display stands) had to go! I felt the white busts to be too stark and clean for what I create so after some hunting I found some beautiful light beige ones that I think will work well.

I also purchased table risers because I found customers really having to bend in order to examine the fine detail in some of my pieces displayed on a standard height banquet table. I found these great bed-risers that offer a total of 3 different heights and are incredibly sturdy. Great find!!!



Aside from a much needed manual credit card machine the other big item I purchased was a collapsible light tent to take pictures. The frustration in trying to take decent pictures was making me crazy. The Cleveland winters offer very little sunlight (see previous post!) and I just can't seem to get the photos the way I want them with the few lamps that I have. This has yet to arrive...but I look forward to trying it out. Once I get it I will post pictures of new pieces created in the last couple of weeks. It isn't much but I have tried to stay busy.

And lastly please be sure to check back February 10th for the unveiling (gulp!) of the Bead Soup Party creation. I finished mine the first week I received the beautiful collection and haven't really felt the need to make any changes. Suddenly I find myself looking at it again...and again. Will I tear it apart and start all over again? Hmmmn....I have until February 1oth don't I?

Oh...here is a Valentine Heart that I particularly love. It can be found in my Etsy shop.



And a lovely ring created by none other than Miss Olivia. :)

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S.A.D.?

Seasonal Affect Disorder

A mood disorder associated with the shorter days and longer nights of autumn and winter. Symptoms include lethargy, depression, social withdrawal, and work difficulties.



Hmmmn...this could certainly explain my lack of motivation, energy and initiative. Lord knows Cleveland is known for being void of adequate sunlight in the winter! Lake Effect weather has snow flying almost daily for about 3-4 months leaving a dreary overcast gray sky that weighs heavy on the spirit. This is my 4th winter here in Cleveland and once again I have noticed an annual weight gain accompanied by feelings of tiredness with difficulty focusing and staying on task. The blues linger longer than they should and a general 'blah-ness' covers me like a ratty old blanket.

The doctor brought this to my attention recently when I went for my regular check-up. After sharing with her my feelings of lethargy and disinterest in things I normally look forward to, she asked a series of questions regarding my current mental state and general mood. How have I been sleeping? Eating? Changes in mood? Trouble with daily tasks? Etc. My answers apparently led to to what seems like a logical explanation for what I have been feeling in the last month. This also brought to light the same general feeling I have been experiencing this time every year for the last several. History tells me I will feel better again once it warms up and the sun breaks though the clouds for more than a couple of hours a week.



So I bring this up because aside from my recent doctor's explanation, I have also been browsing blogs lately (avoiding sitting down and writing my own I guess) and have noticed posts from people sharing similar experiences and symptoms. Folks saying how they are generally not feeling like themselves, or feeling sad and withdrawn. So I wanted to share the Holistic-Online's breakdown of symptoms, treatment and really helpful common sense care that might be helpful to people also experiencing this seasonal disorder. A doctor visit should be scheduled when experiencing these symptoms, but relief and a lighter spirit is available with proper diagnosis and treatment.




Be well and happy winter!

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A Helping Hand

I just want to take a minute to bring to your attention a really wonderful organization called Craft Hope.

Craft Hope is a "Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate." Right now these amazing women are focusing their attention and energy on the plight of the Haitian people after the devastating earthquake last week. They have decided to reach out by establishing a Craft Hope Etsy shop to benefit Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. They are asking crafters and artists to donate some of their wonderful work to the Etsy shop they have set up specifically for this cause. In just 24 hours there has been 162 sales and raised just around $4,000!

JBird's Garden donated a Heart Necklace at the value it was originally listed in my shop. I can happily say the necklace was sold within a few short hours and I am awaiting shipping instructions. What an easy and satisfying way to make a contribution!




The shop will remain open as long as they have donations to fill it up! So I ask anyone who reads this post to either donate one of your handmade beauties to the Craft Hope Etsy shop (details can be found on their website), or if you are a lover of handmade products, or just want to help...then please pop on over and shop shop shop!


“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank

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Bead Soup Part II

Look what I got! My Bead Soup package arrived a couple of days ago and it was as magnificent all laid out on my work table as it was in the picture from Laural's blog (check it out here too). I am so impressed with her work with polymer clay. The Rose focal and especially that beautiful toggle are amazing. If you don't believe me make sure to take some time to check out Laurel's Etsy shop. I can see more of her toggle clasp's in JBird's Garden future.

So anyway I looked at the package of goodies Laurel sent for a night or two. Laid them out several different ways and wondered how I could incorporate all the different components she sent. Well after much pondering I finally came up with a design that I hope do the beautiful beads, focal and that TOGGLE justice and got to work. I did it! I completed the project. I keep looking at it wondering what I should change and have finally decided to leave it alone. I like it the way it is. I hope Laurel does too. The reveal is on February 1st. So be sure to check back to see the final project.

On another note someone asked me recently to share the template I use for the Pill Box's I use to ship my jewelry in. The boxes are really a nice touch and are perfect for giving a gift just as it is. So I am happy to share the instructions and templates for these wonderful little treasure boxes. The website belongs to Carolyn Hasenfratz and this is the link to the site with great easy-to-follow instructions along with downloadable templates in two sizes. Thank you Carolyn.

Lastly here's a necklace I made on a whim awhile ago. It's colorful and funky and totally whimsical. Not necessarily my style but what the heck. A little color goes a long way in the middle of winter...doesn't it? Now posted on Etsy




What do ya think?

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All Over Again

Yup...it's Monday once again. Woke up this morning to the weather guy saying that we are going to finally get a break from the crazy nonstop snow (really - 8 days in a row!) and should only see up to 1" of the white stuff today. HA! It has snowed the entire day and the temp never got above 23 degrees! Ugh! Being a 'Northern Girl' I don't necessarily mind the snow - but c'mon...a little sunshine once in awhile is nice too!




Anyway......

A good thing about this Monday is the Bead Soup Party is underway! I found out my partner is a very talented Laurel Steven who works miracles with Polymer Clay with a beautiful vintage feel. I couldn't wait to get home this evening to put my bead package together to ship off to her. Let me say that it wasn't anywhere as easy as I thought it would be. I believe that part of fun of the swap is to receive and work with beads/findings that you might not necessarily work with. It seems that although Laurel's work is completely different than mine, we both appreciate the 'Grandmother's attic' style (see Laurel's work at her Etsy Shop)so I wanted to send her a package of beads with a more 'earthy' feel.

So I decided on a beautiful green mosaic turquoise focal pendant bead with complimentary smaller beads. I found a lot of these components at an estate sale this past summer and have been waiting for just the right opportunity to work with them. Little did I know at the time that the opportunity was meant for someone else!



So I am looking forward to beginning this project. It sounds like WAY more fun than Cleveland in the winter for sure! :)


To backtrack a bit I had a pretty productive weekend in my little work space here. Saturday morning I signed onto Facebook to discover I had 400 fans! WooHoo!! Thanks to a new trend called 'Link Love' many crafters and artisans who have had facebook fan pages but little traffic was now able to get themselves out there with a little bit of persistence. My persistence paid off because in just a couple days I was able to bring over 60 new fans in. I was so excited to see the big 4-0-0 that I had a spontaneous giveaway of a pair of Hematite and Crystal earrings.



The deal was the first post in response to mine would receive the earrings. Well this only took a total of 2 minutes and the winner was Danyel Pink of CrazySocks Crochet Shop. What fun that was! I plan to do it all over again when I hit 500!!!

Then back to work I went and created these new little pretties:






Lastly I need to announce that my granddaughter Olivia's 9th birthday is tomorrow. I love you Miss Loo and Happy Happy Birthday to you. So happens that you are nothing but sunshine and rainbows in my life. XOXOXO

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Bead Soup Party Anyone?

Join the fun!

Laurie Anderson, of Pretty Things is having a Bead Soup Party and here's how it works:

Sign up by contacting her at lori@lorianderson.net and on January 11th, she'll contact everyone with your Party Partner and list all the Party Blogs. You'll then send that person a Party Pack:

~ A focal
~ Some coordinating spacers or beads
~ A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)

When you get your package of beads, you make something with it, take a picture, and post it on your blog on February 1st. Then everyone hops around to all the Party Blogs to see what you made!

Sounds like great fun for those cold, snowy days ahead.

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Ready For A New Year

Happy New Year!

I must say I am excited to get this year underway. I have so many new ideas and designs I want to try, but I decided before I do that I better organize and de-clutter before I start too many new projects. Of course there was no way I could go any longer without making anything new, especially with all the recently ordered supplies arriving, so I put together some pretty Valentine necklaces and a couple other pieces then dug in!





So I've been spending this very cold and snowy New Year clearing out tons of old jewelry photos, transferring SOLD pictures to an external hard drive and deleting ones I never used. Since I've had to move my workspace out of the sunroom (boohoo) and into the small spare room we have my space has been cluttered and unorganized. So I also added an extra table, some new storage bins and even found these great little storage containers for those quick ideas that pop into my head, but have no time to work on it at that moment. I found if I gather together the materials I want to use for that idea I can just place them in one of the containers until the next time I can sit down to work. It's a perfect solution for my 'old timers' memory.



Also I was wondering about a better, more attractive way to ship off my jewelry. I wanted something that could also be used as a gift box, but didn't carry with it a gift box price. So with that in mind I looked up prices for those cute little patterned pillow boxes. As sweet as they are I found them to not be in my budget at the moment. So the solution? Well that was to just make them myself! I found great card stock paper at Joann Fabrics on sale and downloaded a couple of templates and voila! I love them!!! They are perfect for what I was looking for and cost friendly too.




The main thing I got done in the last week was to reopen my Etsy shop! This I am very happy about. It was my first goal for the new year and I did it yesterday. Since most of the items that were previously in it sold, I had to reopen with mostly new pieces. I also turned in new photos for my booth at the Handmade Craft Show. All this...is a very good feeling!

So I guess the only way to end this entry is by going back to the beginning of it. I am excited about the new year and especially for all the motion I want to put into JBird's Garden wheels. Personally I don't like 'resolutions', I'm defiant enough that if I believe resolutions are something I HAVE TO keep I will surely not do so. So the goals that I strive for in 2010 (where JBird is concerned anyway) include:

1. Be more creative By this I mean taking more chances and being more challenged
2. Better promoting. Marketing works..I found this out last year. So for 2010 I want
to double the effort, find new avenues and really put myself out there.
3. Attend more shows! I love this part of what I do...I really do. The social aspect
of it, being a part of the family of artists and crafters. Meeting and talking to
folks who are there to support local artisans. It's all just good fun.
4. Be confident. I think about how at the beginning of 2009 how tentative I was
in putting my stuff (aka myself) out there to be judged and critiqued. I compared
my work to that of others' and to me mine never stood up. I don't feel as much
that way now...but my goal is strive for even more confidence.
5. Be brave! Just what it says.

and lastly...

6. Have more fun!!! This is what it all comes down to at the end of the day. As
long as this work, and effort and time brings with it the same level of 'fun' and
joy I currently get out of it all...then 2010 is going to be a fantastic year!

So goodbye to 2009. I learned alot about myself and my desire to feed my creative animal. I learned to find time for the things I love, even when there seems none left to give. Ive learned that I can express myself in a way that feels satisfying and motivating. 2009 was a good year...2010 is expected to be even better!

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