Date: March 29, 2008
Time: 2pm – Midnight PST
Details:
** 25% off any 1 item in the shop, including sale merchandise
** Free shipping
To take advantage of this special sale, please mention “SNS” in the note to seller box and wait for a revised invoice. This special ends at midnight PST.
To view Saturday Night Specials in other Etsy shops, visit this thread in the Etsy promotions forum:
It’s always a happy day when a new issue of Knitty comes out. As always, there are at least a few designs I feel compelled to knit (which doesn’t mean I get around to it). Here are some of the highlights from the new issue:
Hands down, my favorite design is Jaden. It has a lovely shape and some really nice details. I am tempted to put down everything and knit this immediately, even though I am deep in the middle of Christmas gift knitting (I started in January this year! Unfortunately, all unbloggable) and an original project I’m designing for myself (which I will blog eventually).
My next favorite design is Mosey. I’ve been wanting to knit a pair of leg warmers for awhile and I love this pair. The weather in Southern California is warming up quickly though and I fear it might be too late to get much wear out of these now, but they would be fantastic for Fall.
Nob Hill is another favorite design from this issue. My only concern about it is that my figure tends toward boxiness and this shrug might exacerbate that look. It looks like a quick knit though and it if it doesn’t work for me I could probably find someone to give it to who doesn’t suffer from rectangle syndrome.
Next on the list is Honeycomb because it looks like a good challenge and I’ve been looking for a flattering vest pattern for awhile. This one might fit the bill.
Sigh. I love knitting.
Well, if it hasn’t actually sprung, it is hoping to spring soon. Admittedly, I live in a very temperate climate, but even here in sunny Southern California it’s been chilly. I am looking forward to the daily grind of wearing flip flops, t-shirts, and shorts.
In anticipation of warmer weather, I recently made a necklace with one of my favorite stones–aquamarine. About a year ago, I purchased a strand of rough, faceted, aquamarine nugget beads. I have used them sparingly in my designs, and since they are of varying shapes and sizes, there are a lot of options. For example, the long, narrow nugget used in this necklace screamed pendant to me. Actually, it also screamed choker, but I chose instead to go with my original thought and made it a long pendant necklace.
Aquamarine Nugget Necklace – $45
The chain is 18″ long and the pendant itself hangs about 2″. It is a sleek, sexy necklace that will work well for both spring and summer. So what are we waiting for? Bring on the sun!
Every time ski season rolls around, I get an overwhelming urge to knit hats. Ironically, now that I’ve got a helmet, I can’t even wear hats when I ski. This isn’t something I took into consideration when I bought the helmet, but I figure safety trumps cute headwear.
The hat below was knit a couple of weeks ago to match the scarf, which I knit last year. Originally, I envisioned a hat with a folded ribbed brim, but I didn’t like the look of it so I wear it more as a slouchy hat.
The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky in light teal, which is one of my favorite yarns. There is really no pattern for the hat–I cast on 76 stitches on size 9 double pointed needles. I knit the ribbed pattern for about 3 inches, then switched to stockinette in the next round, increasing 1 stitch every 19 stitches (80). I continued in stockinette for about 2 1/2 inches. For the top shaping, I did a decrease row (knit 8, knit two together, repeating until the end of the round), followed by a regular round. Next decrease row was knit 7, knit two together, repeating until the end of the round, followed by a regular round. And so on, until there were 8 stitches left on the needles. Break the yarn, put it on a tapestry needle, and run it back through your stitches, pulling tightly. Weave in your ends, and Voila! You have a hat.
For the scarf, I used my trusty Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns. I highly recommend this book, or a book like it, because it is filled with loads of patterns that you can mix and match to add detail to your designs. In this case, I used a basic cable stitch down the middle and some twisted cables on either side. Forgive me, I knit this scarf over a year ago and I don’t remember exactly what stitches I used. No matter–if you want to knit a scarf like this, create your own unique design.
I have a few more hats I’ll be posting in the next few days. Please try to contain your excitement!
I suddenly, and inexplicably, have a fire lit under my booty to get better at promoting my blog and etsy site. Not sure how that happened but I figure I’d better ride the wave.
One of the things I did today was ask for a link in a very cool blog called “Etsy Mini.” Beyond the fact that I sell on Etsy myself, there are so many great artists there that promoting others as well as myself is a no-brainer. And that is precisely what Etsy Mini sets out to do.
I recently re-discovered some sterling silver beaded wire I bought years ago but never did anything with. When I saw it after all this time, however, I immediately saw a couple of things I could do with it: Hoops!
To make these earrings, I first wrapped the wire around a dowel of the diameter I wanted (in this case, about 1/2″ around). The technique is basically the same as if you were making jump rings. I then used my jeweler’s saw to separate the rings and then used clippers to cut away part of the material for the hoops’ opening. I pretty much just estimated the size it should be.
Next, I filed and sanded the both ends of both openings to remove any rough edges. I then soldered pre-made sterling silver posts to one end of each of the hoops. After pickling the earrings, I polished them to a very shiny finish and added the ear nuts to the ends.
I will be making more of this style of earring in the future as I like the look of them. I’ve always really liked hoops, though in my daily life I tend to wear studs because they are a little more comfortable.
First of all, Happy New Year!
One of my goals for the new year is to offer video tutorials in metalsmithing. I’ve been asked so many times how one can learn metalsmithing so I know it’s something people are interested in. My first video will be an intro to metalsmithing and I hope to produce it some time in the first 2 weeks of 2008. Having never done anything like this before, I’m not sure how long it will take but I think 2 weeks is a reasonable time-frame when you include the other stuff I need to do to keep my business afloat.
This intro will primarily be about what tools and materials you will need to get started. This initial investment might seem daunting because there is a lot to get, however, I’ve been using more or less the same tools since I started making handmade jewelry back in 2001. Of course I’ve added to my tool box as I’ve developed my skills, but I still use these basic tools on a daily basis. This list of tools is a companion to the video I will be producing in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned.
The first instructional videos will primarily use the tools listed under Raw Materials, Soldering, and Finishing. Future videos will include sawing and forming metal. The intent of the videos are to teach basic techniques for making headpins, clasps, earwires, jump rings, pendants, et cetera so you can enhance your designs by adding extra unique elements.
The list of tools and materials I’m listing is from the 2007 Rio Grande Tools & Equipment catalog. I’m listing the name of the item, the item number, and price so you can quickly find exactly what I’m talking about, although I think Rio’s website requires one to register before you can shop (which is why I’m not linking directly to the items). You can print this list out and use the item numbers to “quick shop.” There are, of course, other sources for these tools, so by all means, shop around–I’ve tried to be as specific as possible so you know what to look for. My apologies if I’ve left anything out.
TOOLS
Raw Materials (Sterling Silver – prices depend on silver prices at time of purchase)
21 gauge wire (1/2 hard) – 100351
26 gauge wire (1/2 hard) – 100356
20 gauge sheet – 100120
Solder (easy) – 101200
Soldering
Butane torch – 500226 $47.95
Heat block – 502004 $13.20
Third Hand – 502066 $11.55
Cross lock tweezers – 115206 $4.95
Tweezers – 115053 $6.00
Soldering tweezers – 115074 $6.95
Copper tongs – 501017 $7.75
Soldering pick – 503021 $7.30
Flux – 504006 $8.50
Pickle – 5010233 $10.10
Pickle pot – 501012 $18.95
Straight snips – 114227 $19.95
Flux brush – a plastic paint brush will do
Sawing, Cutting & Shaping Metal
Portable bench pin – 110010 $7.95
Saw frame – 110068 $9.95
Saw blades: sizes 2/0 & 4/0 – 110195 $9.25 each
Pliers (needle nose, round nose, flat nose, half-round–buy the best you can afford, as these will get plenty of use. I’m listing an economy set here just for reference) – 111909 $27.00
Dividers – 116329 $11.25
Automatic center punch – 118111 $15.75 or center punch – 118116 $7.50
Flexible shaft tool – A Dremel will work in place of this, but eventually you might want to get a Foredom flex shaft – 117534 $183
Twist drill bits – 77 (.46mm) – 349436 $7.10, 75 (.53mm) – 349434 $7.10
Ring mandrel – 112366 $24
Rawhide mallet – 112209 – $15
Ball peen hammer – 112198 $17.95
Steel bench block – 112495 $14.00
Safety goggles
Finishing
Emery paper – 337342 $14.60
Polishing cloth – 337040 $3.30
Hand file (half-round, 2 cut) – 114316 $26.50
Needle files (cut 2) – 114262 $16.75
Cup bur (about 1.9) – 344351 $9.40
There are a few things in life I’d really like to learn, but am starting to feel like it might never happen. One of those things is to learn to play the guitar.
I’ve taken lessons. The problem is that you actually have to practice–a lot–in order to learn to play the guitar. The lessons, therefore, didn’t quite take. I therefore decided to channel my desire to play the guitar into a necklace:
I’m actually quite a musical person. I played the flute from ages 10-18 and sang in all manners of choirs during my teenage and college years. Not the least of which was Loyola Marymount University’s choir, which at the time was led by Paul Salamunovich, one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had. He was a bit of a meanie sometimes, and not above punishing by public humiliation, but only because he had such high regard for the music. Depending on what kind of mood he was in, if he heard a wrong note, he’d stop everything and demand to know who was singing it. It only happened to me once and thankfully, everyone around me kept their mouths shut, as did I. In recent years, my singing voice has somehow left the building, so I don’t do much of that anymore. I still do a mean version of Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” in karaoke though.
Over the years then I guess I’ve traded my musical creativity for manual (for lack of a better word). I guess I’m okay with that.
So, back to the necklace. It’s sterling silver polished with a matte finish and the chain hangs asymmetrically. I actually made three of these: one for myself to keep because I like it so much and two more to sell.
Yesterday was Pet Art 9. This is an event I generally look forward to every year, but I have to admit I wasn’t feeling it yesterday. I almost told Mick we weren’t going to go. I’m glad we did, though.
I always feel a little, I don’t know, dirty after Pet Art. I go into it with the best of intentions thinking I will only bid on one or two pieces, then the wine starts flowing and my credit card is out. This year was no exception, but as the auctioneer said, think of this as a donation–the art is free. So I got two great pieces of free art and made a modest donation of (ahem) to a great cause.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The first thing I did when we got there was check out my own painting:
I was pretty happy with the location, but not quite as happy with the frame. Next time I will have the art framed myself before donating it, because I do feel this makes a difference for bidders.
Next, I checked in with my friend John, who used to be the volunteer coordinator at PAWS/LA. Now he just volunteers.
John is on the cusp of a really big deal to produce a script he wrote. So everyone, cross your fingers that it goes through.
The next thing I did was look at all the art. Overall, I thought the art this year was really good. Going in, there were two pieces I was seriously interested in buying:
The other was an original piece by Gary Baseman, which unfortunately I don’t have a photo of. I knew it was unlikely I’d get that one though and I was right–it was insanely popular.
The main reason I didn’t get either of the pieces I intended on getting is because I ended up bidding on (and winning) two pieces in the live auction. I can never help myself in the live auction–I am an attention whore and I love raising my bidder number. So, without further ado, here are the pieces I got:
Another Morbid Cat, Shag, acrylic on canvas
I put this in my guest/workroom because it’s fun, and Shag inspires me. I love his work and I’m very happy to get an original piece, even if it’s small.
Dancers, Roger Herman, lithograph and watercolor
I love this piece! Even though I didn’t go to the auction intending to bid on it, when I saw it in person I knew I wanted it.
My own piece ended up selling for (I think) $80, which was the last bid I saw before we left. Here is the bid sheet–I blocked out the bidder’s info for privacy. I was glad it got multiple bids, even though I wish it would’ve sold for more.
Overall, it was a successful event and I hope PAWS/LA made loads of money. At least I know I did my part to help!
My new guest/work room has been done for a week now but I haven’t had a chance to post the photos until today. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. I love being in that room now.
Here is the area where my workbench is. As a reminder, I’m including the “Before” pics I used in this post.
Before:
It’s kind of an awkward sized nook, but it fits my workbench perfectly and allows me to hang a curtain to hide it when guests are here. In this photo, the curtain is pulled back.
After:
And here the curtain is closed:
One of the things I bought for the new room was a small desk, shown above. It is the perfect size to hold my lap top, and I can use the additional surface space when I’m working on jewelry.
The most important purchase for the new room was the bed. Previously, we had a sofa bed which was completely impractical. The arms were huge and took up way too much space, and the bed itself was just a single, leaving any couples who visit us kind of out of luck in the bed department.
Before:
After:
I bought a simple bed frame and pop-up trundle from HumbleAbode.com. Here is a photo of trundle set up to make a king-sized bed:
Here is the closet area, which stayed more or less the same. I did purge quite a bit of stuff though, which left me with a lot more room:
Before:
After:
Here, the curtain is closed:
I truly couldn’t be happier with this new room. It is pretty, functional, and comfortable, both for me to work in and for my guests to stay in!
