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. :)