Since this morning's light showerings prevented me from going out in the garden--I might shrink, ya know--I set myself to business with my large wedding party earrings, complete with the bride's pair. At this point, ALL that I have left is the bride's necklace!!!! I'm so close to the finish line that I can touch it!

Bling on a cloudy day:


For the bride:


And each lady:

First of all, thank you, my friends, for the warm birthday wishes. I felt surrounded by hugs. Since Hubby and I had a better opportunity to go out to eat on Thursday night, I felt like I actually celebrated for two days. Yesterday, then, was a mix of farm yard mowing and afternoon bling. I'm flexible that way. ;-)

Soooo...I had a real treat in going to town and delivering some jewelry orders. I told Wayne that I'm going to have to start planning on spending half days in those little trips to town. When you bring jewelry, the time flies by.

First stop was an impromptu meetup at a friend's friend's house. The friend of the friend didn't know that she was going to be involved like that, but I believe that it worked out to everyone's benefit. The friend of the friend ended up buying an anklet right off of my ankle! So now I can say that I've had my first "bought it right off of the artisan's person" experience. And on my birthday! Fun treat.

Let's just say that I did jewelry-related exchanges at three places, and when I came home, I quickly deleted a few things from my Etsy store, since they were bought offline.

I could prattle away, as when something excites me, I'll just drone on and on. ;-) But you get the idea...the afternoon was too much fun.

With that, my batteries are charged to full capacity. I came home and completed four orders that evening, and another this morning. I'm still not caught up--may never be caught up at this rate--but I'm at a good point for the next round of items. The huge wedding order....one necklace and 8 pairs of earrings left to do. We're getting there. Ahhhhh.

Just when I think that I'm starting to get the hang of photography 101, a simple photo session with Crazy Horses leaves me frustrated. Well, at least these two photos went fairly well, and I don't want to complain about the sun being too bright, but ugh.

Anyway, here are a couple of calming photos of Dakota Dreams:







Maybe the camera will work better once it's operator has had her lunch. Garden fresh spinach, anyone?

When a beautiful rain decides to fall, my natural light goes ffffft. But who can complain? We've received 1.3 inches, this morning, of much welcomed rain.

So back to my makeshift lightbox, this morning, I snapped earring pictures and listed them. My afternoon is taken up with a meeting, so this morning was play time for me.

Have a most awesome day!

Etsy Buy Handmade GracedLace

We have been sooo blessed with awesome weather for the past few days, that I'm filled with an air of summer romance. Gentle breezes, warm--but not too hot--temperatures, and beautiful blue skies.

This afternoon, I am ready to dig out my supplies and get cracking on more orders to be filled. After working on some of that, yesterday, I took time out to make a new anklet for the shop. This one reminds me of garden parties and outdoor weddings.

Rose Kissed

Well lookie what we have here! Five happy toe rings soaking in the sun. I'm finding that these little guys reproduce quickly when their maker is sitting in her pickup truck, waiting on Farmer Wayne. I notice that the one on the far right ended up taking on the shape of a sideways butterfly. Hmmm....I sense more butterflies in the making.



Making my day even more complete, I delivered a necklace and earring set to my sister-in-law for her son's August wedding. I wish that I would have stopped to take a picture, as I like how the set turned out. The groom's mom is wearing a black and white dress. She isn't a splashy jewelry person, yet I knew that we needed to make her shine a bit. Jet black AB Czech glass,some milk glass white beads, and a perfect black and faux diamond rhinestone vintage finding takes her to the top, without overwhelming her. Thanks to my small bob earring-loving friends, I put her in a shiny small bob dangle. She was pleased. While I still have 5 wedding sets to finish for the bridal party, I feel good about having the groom's mom taken care of. The rest in due time.

Since the local news piece, I picked up some special name bracelet and name anklet orders. While waiting for supplies for other custom orders to arrive in the mail, I decided to tackle these local orders.

A former coworker asked me to make a mother's bracelet for her daughter. She requested browns and greens, and said that I could add anything "Alaska-like" to the piece. Hmmmmm....Alaska....aha! Waiting in my stash were some wintery charms. Hopefully the bracelet will provide Eskimo kiss appeal.

First, I must tell you that in case you didn't already know it, I'm only able to snatch computer time moments, here and there. I'm up way early (5:30 a.m.) and to bed late (10:30p.m. or later), while helping with taking and delivering anhydrous fertilizer tanks to and from the corn fields for my hubby. This year promises nearly twice the typical, as we have more corn fields this year, so any spare moments are brief.

That said, I try to take advantage of my wait times at the anhydrous station, and work on jewelry in the cab of the pickup. So while I'm working on things, just know that my time is limited, and my list had grown long! Yay for the list! Anyway, what's mostly on the far back burner are the toe rings...I'll get to them, but they require a bit more for me, since I'm very new at making them. Mostly, though, I've been in touch with those of you who are on the list for anklets, necklaces, or bracelets. I'm on it, I think!

Anyway, to the coincidence: I was in Bismarck, yesterday, for appointments, and stopped by a bead shop to pick up two rolls of silver toned wire. Thinking that I'd tossed the bag in my purse, I walked out. This morning, I discovered that I had, indeed, left the bag behind.

I just got off the phone with the shop. Yes, they have my bag. I asked if I could put on credit the postage, etc., for having the items shipped off to me. I need silver wire NOW. I spelled out my name, and as the clerk listened to me finish, she said, "Yep. That's how my mother spelled her name. MERRILEE.)! Seriously, I think that I provided the proper code word. The dear lady plans to mail out the items for free! I will certainly return to their store. In fact, it's my silver and gold wire haunt. And if I'm of sound mind, next time I'm there, I will attempt to reimburse them for their service.

In the area? Shop BEAD CHICKS, of Bismarck. ♥

Oops! Probably not something so exciting for you, but this news bit was fun for me. Remember the news feature that I'd mentioned a couple of weeks ago? Well I hit the front page of our county's little newspaper, this week. Maralee interviewed Merrilee, and we bonded quite well. Heh...oh, and we both have July birthdays!

Anyhoo, I cropped the article as much as I could, since I do NOT favor this photo. I swear that all photos of people in this newpaper look 20 pounds heavier than they actually are--though I do have a few to shed, again. Aging is so kind, that way.



If you want to read the story that humbles me to no end, here it is. Maralee is far too sweet with her words:


RARE GEM FOUND IN TAPPEN


By Maralee Kalianoff

One of the perks of attending Kidder County’s First Annual Relay for Life (and there are many; it was a privilege to walk around the track for many who couldn’t) was picking up bits and pieces of interesting stories along the way.

While doing a lap with a couple of friends (I’m sure I slowed them down considerably; it’s difficult for me to walk, talk and take notes at the same time. I made no attempt to chew gum), I learned that one of the members of their team of Bowerman Insurance/Security State Bank had single-handedly raised the most money before the relay. Merrilee Bodvig, of Tappen, North Dakota, had sold eighty custom-made bracelets donating the proceeds, an impressive $1200.00 to the American Cancer Society.

I’m not a math major. Frankly, I really stink at math (strangely enough, I worked at a bank for thirty-two years. Oops.), but, by using my handy little God-send calculator (it got me through those banking years), I find that translates into $15.00 per bracelet. Merrilee never set a fixed price on the bracelets, which were beaded and featured lettered beads to spell out names or statements; customers determined what they wanted to pay as a donation to the Relay.

Intrigued by the bracelet and the designer who spent countless hours making eighty of these intricate treasures in addition to working as a speech-language pathologist in the school system, I decide to meet up with Merrilee to talk about her hobby.

As a young girl, Merrilee (Awesome name, even though it is spelled wrong!) loved doing crafts. Her dad (yes, her DAD) taught her to knit, her first crafting endeavor. Crocheting and other art mediums followed, leading up to her current interest in making jewelry. After learning her jewelry-making trade, self-taught on line by navigating available videos, Merrilee developed a website through Etsy to display and sell her unique jewelry designs about a year ago. Obviously influenced by her penchant towards Victorian design, Merrilee’s jewelry website is fittingly named “GracedLace.”

Business has been good, Merrilee says. “I’ve recently added ankle bracelets and they seem to sell as fast as I list them.” Admiring samples of her work set out in front of me, I am not surprised. Her color selections are beautiful; soothing earth-tones complemented with natural elements of copper, silver and gold wire. Many of the pieces feature one-of-a-kind enhancements from cast-off costume jewelry from days gone by, giving them a Victorian look.

Asked about the number of hours donated to the Relay for Life bracelets, Merrilee just laughs. “I don’t want to know”, she says. “The best part of doing those were the stories from the people who bought them, the reasons for the words they chose to embellish them, and the connections we made by sharing those things.”

My question of “What motivated you to develop your hobby into a business?” is best answered by accessing GracedLace.etsy.com. “My story is about creating visions of beauty so that others might see.” That quote is the introductory sentence to Merrilee’s GracedLace jewelry profile. Two years ago, Merrilee lost her mother to complications from Macular Degeneration, a vision-robbing disease two of her aunts are afflicted with also. Merrilee’s profile goes on to state, “Prevention and treatment have come a long way, but AMD continues to win out in all too many cases. Since Mom’s death, I’ve become determined to donate to the cause for better prevention, treatment, and eventual cure for AMD. That’s why a portion of the money from my sales is donated to that cause, and I feel blessed to be able to do that.”

Precious gems can occur anywhere in nature. With edges worn smooth by life’s unexpected storms, Merrilee just happens to be found in Tappen, North Dakota.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Interested in viewing Merrilee’s work? Access http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5744625 Comments and works in progress can be followed at http://www.gracedlace.livejournal.com/

Since sahlahopenly asked about toe rings, I decided to make a brief public entry over this. Here is the beginning of my attempts at making toe rings. I cannot take credit for full originality on this piece, except to say that I tweaked it a bit from what I've seen in other wired toe rings; hence,  it has an extra teeny drop of original flair to it.

I've done it in brown colored copper--which is one of my top choices. The gold and the silver brand of wire that I have in that gauge is reeeeally difficult to bend, but can possibly be made into less coiled styles.

I do hope that I don't make anyone wince at the fact that I popped it on my own toe, but I thought it important to show you what it actually looks like on a toe.

Something in this all-wire style, to a first-time customer, would most likely be listed at $4.00.
For repeat customers, $3.00.

Sahlah, you can message me with questions, if you prefer to do so that way, and thank you for understanding my fun in making this public. At any rate, you have first crack at this ring. And if you are wanting more, you'll just have to let me know!

It's listed as RESERVED, just in case. :-D

Wow, but has this ever been the time for anklets. I can't make them fast enough...not that I'm complaining, but what fun! I've added a few more to the shop, as well as the following line in my shop announcement:

Check back often. I'm popping ankle bracelets (anklets) into the shop just as fast as I can. If you blink, however, they're sold! But there will be more. I promise.

Click the above link to see the latest listings.

At any rate, I hope that your own Friday is gracing you with a smile.

While I waited for the bride to say "I do" about the necklace prototype (I'll have to snap a new picture of the finished product--another time, another entry), I completed a few more ankle bracelets for the shop.

They are now listed at GracedLace. I'm enjoying these outdoor photo shoots, ya know?

No funny comments about my toes or wonky tan lines, ya hear?







And a gussied up anklet, complete with vintage Siam Swarovski (two are AB!):



These make me happy. I hope you enjoy floating through the flowers with me. ;-)

Well, a year after implementing the use of my styrofoam cooler lightbox, I decided to venture outdoors and shoot my listing photos for an anklet. (The anklet is similar to one that I recently sold, so no surprises for you in that.) Anyway, I was delighted with our beautiful sun this afternoon. After this successful experiment, I plan to explore the outdoors, even more.


 

I simply want to share with you the coolest vintage findings in calla lily parts that I made up into a custom order pair of earrings. My only regret is that I don't have at least one more set of these lilies...just one lone piece that I'll likely make up into a pendant.

Anyway, after making those, I decided to make up a less dramatic pair. While these, too, are spoken for, I can readily duplicate.

Enjoy the mingling of pale blue and aged silver......

Here's another anklet that I could easily keep for myself, but I will take the chance and list it...unless one of you dear friends speaks for it, beforehand.

I hope that my findings stash never runs out, as I am having fun popping in unexpected surprises amid the rest of the links. Copper, Swarovski crystals and Swarovski pearls, and a twirling leaf of unknown parts....

Seriously, I need a foot and ankle model!

 



This one is approximately 10" long, but it can be sized for anyone's needs.

While working on one of the wedding pieces, I managed to finish off an ankle bracelet for a brand new customer, and took two custom lanyards from start to finish.

Just a peek:

Anklet:



Eyeglasses Lanyard:


Another lanyard completed yesterday:


I've not yet photographed the other lanyard, so you'll just have to dream about something in greens and earth tones. ;-)

OK...last post...Hubby is fighting me for the computer. Good night!

I've begun my task of putting together wedding pieces for our nephew's fiance's wedding party, so I thought that I would share the beginnings of the first piece. Note that the crystal beaded strands are commercially linked (time-saver for me), but the pearl strand is hand linked by me.

Isn't that crystal pendant gorgeous?

I'll show you completion, of course, when I get to that point.

The first annual Relay for Life event for our county is now but a memory.  And pleasant memories, at that.  Admittedly, I did not last the night, but I was not alone.  With temperatures in the upper 40's, no matter how many layers and fire pits that you could cuddle up to, there reached a point of perpetual chill. 

But what a fun evening!  We listened to testimonies of cancer survivors, we lit and walked the luminary-lined track, we chatted with team members and mixed and mingled with friends who belonged to other teams, and we reflected on bittersweet memories of those who lost their lives to cancer. 

At some point in the evening, one of the reporters from our small county newspaper stopped by our camp to chat with me about the bracelets.  She'd heard about the success that I'd had with these, and wanted to include a mention about that in her article for next week's paper.  This lady is an awesome woman.  After she retired from her 30 years in the bank, she took on a parttime job as a feature reporter.  She writes THE most wonderful and warm pieces.  Hey, and the fact that her name is the same as mine--only spelled differently--is extra special.  At any rate, there is a chance that she's wanting to catch back up with me to do a feature on the jewelry.  We shall see.  It graces me, just to have been approached.  



OH...and next year?  I think we shall sell bananas at the event!  Several camps had food booths.  We didn't, but the food that we brought for our own team was laid out on a table.  While I was walking the track, someone stopped by our camp and asked to buy a banana for a dollar.  Seed money for next year!  Ya gotta laugh!   Meanwhile, anyone need bananas , right now?  I have about 3 bunches that I brought home.  I think I'll plant a bunch in both the hired men's vehicles. ;-)


Crossposted to curly_purls .

Well...check this out!

http://puggy.livejournal.com/607899.html?view=834715#t834715

First of all, her shawl is so "her" that she's keeping it for herself.  But I see more of these happening!

And be sure to look at her most darling clutch purse, listed in her shop.   Click above link to her journal, which then contains the shop link.

Way to go!!!

It thrills me to pieces when someone from my flist offers up tips and pointers, and such is the case with charming the ankle bracelets for change. 

Little did Mermaids_Tears  realize that I have rolled the idea of "interchangeable" in my mind for quite a long time....I just never knew where to go with it. But Dawn definitely did. And, by the way, I also have her to thank for the beautiful tweaking of my current avatar/icon. She took my blurry pic, cleaned it up, added gorgeous embellishments and watermarks to it, and, voila! Dawn, a.k.a, pavanes , gifted me with this treasure.

Back to the ankle bracelets. Dawn thought that it would be cool if I could provide interchangeable capability for the charms and dangles. Well, after giving it a shot, I think I've come up with an option to consider:




I "HOPE" that this might work. ♥