Hooters Challenge at Artisan Whimsy...

I entered the Hooters Challenge over at Artisan Whimsy

If you get a chance pop over, have a look around and join!  Its a fun group of people and lots of inspiration from a lot of creative people.  

So, for the Hooters Challenge I submitted an Owl Bracelet with an ephemera Owl Charm and triple strand.  The strands consist of Czech Glass beads, Czech Glass Peanut beads and Antique Brass Chain.  I also used a detailed Lobster Claw closure.  

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else submits, always a delight to see how different everyone's creativity is.

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Blog? Me? Maybe? Thursday... Autumn arrives

Autumn's crispness has settled in and the cool colors are with us around every corner.  Autumn used to be my favorite season, but as with life, this too has changed for me.  My child started kindergarten this Fall and with that my 'love' for the season seems to have changed to just a strong 'like'.  

In my previous life, something I refer to as B.C. (Before Child), I loved Autumn.  The slight chill in the morning air, always giving it a sense of freshness.  The colors coming alive in the trees and shrubbery.  The swirling of the falling leaves, the crunching sound of the leaves beneath my feet on a chilly evening walk. The idea of settling down into a routine again from the carefree summer days.  The thoughts of all the upcoming holidays (I love decorating and planning the holidays).  All of this has been great right up to this year.  Even with child in tow the last 5 years things seemed to be as exciting and warming to my soul.  However, this year it seems different. 

Autumn is still beautiful, still gives me a comforting feeling, but it doesn't bring a real welcome to me. I hate to say this, but its lost that loving feeling (cue the Righteous Brothers).   I find this Fall, in particular, it reminds me of time slipping away very fast.  I was always told as a child by my grandparents and my parents that I should not rush time, as it will pass me by soon enough and then I will wonder where it went.  I'm really getting that nowadays.  So many things are within our control, but one thing that we will truly never have control over is time.

I can not sink into despair over time gone by, but I do cherish the memories it has gave to us.  I think my feelings toward ALL of the season's has changed.  I'm not so much in 'love' with any particular season, as I do truly have a strong 'like'  for them all (yes, even winter), but I think I now have a LOVE for the time each season gives to us and the life events within.   As sad as it can be to see everything changing so fast, kids growing up, wrinkles appearing (eek!), its also nice to know that I haven't wasted the time that was given to me.  I don't feel cheated.  Our family has created so many memories and will continue to create memories as time marches on.  I just think I need to always remember its not the season that makes something special, its the memories within that time frame that makes it special.  My child will grow up, its inevitable, and although I can not control the time passing us by so quickly, I can control how I take it all in and I choose to enjoy it, cherish it, LOVE it.  

Life is the Season I love most.

 Autumn in the city. 

Remember with every second that passes, another is there to take its place and another memory is waiting to happen.   

Take care and all the best,

Traci

Blog? Me? Maybe? Thursday..... What? Its NOT Thursday...

Well, it seems I missed Thursday blogging, hmmmm, guess I'll try again next week.  Anyway, this week has been filled with a lot of kleenex and cold medicine and NOT a lot of creativity.   My child started to kindergarten and it seems the cold he brought home the first week of school has ravaged its way through our home.  I have been fighting it for 8 days and let's just say Cold 1, Me 0.  I'll kick its butt next time though, I'm ready and waiting with my Vitamin C.

So, like I said this week has been filled with treating the family for all sort of cold effects so the creativity has been to a bare minimum.  I managed to fill a few custom orders that needed to get done, but really, I'm hoping for a creative surge this weekend.  Until next week, I'll leave you with a few pictures of this weeks necessity orders.

 

These sweet little snowman earrings are available in my shop throughout the upcoming holiday season. www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift

Have a great weekend and all the best,
Traci

Wordless Wednesday...

Neil Zeller Photography

www.facebook.com/NeilZellerPhotography

Blog? Me? Maybe?

Well, I'm going to try something new and call Thursday my blogging day, so from this day forward Thursday will be 'Blog? Me? Maybe?'.  This is crazy. :)  

So, we are into Fall full swing in our house.  Schedules are still shaky and taking a bit to get used to, but we will find our footing soon (I hope).  

So, with the Fall comes a new 'little' freedom for me, I find myself free for 3 hours every morning during the week day.  My tiny tyke has made it into Kindergarten and I am now finding myself with a little time to get caught up on things around the house or even jewelry making.  This new freedom didn't come without a little sadness, as I have spent the last 5 years of my life with my child beside me 24/7.  However, once I got past the first day of tears (me, not child), I am now seeing how healthy, refreshing and creative this 3 hours can be.  My child is very happy in school and I am finding a creative groove, without guilt.

So, what have I been up to the first week of school?  Obvious answer, beading.   Here are a few creations that have come from my bead table, tell me what you think??

 Into the Blue Necklace

 Swarovski Crystal Christmas Trees

 Autumn's Silence Necklace

Fun Earrings!

So, the first official, Blog? Me? Maybe? Thursday Post. Until next week, this is crazy.

All the best,

Traci

A step (or two) outside of my comfort zone...

Sometimes you need a change, sometimes the change is thrust upon you. 

I have been wanting to branch out from my normal jewelry making with just beads, wire, etc..  Then I received a message from a valued customer asking if I do metal stamping.  Well, funny story, my dear husband bought me everything I needed to get started doing that back in April, but its just something I didn't think I could do (well at), so I brushed it to the side.  So, with this message looking me in the face, I had 1 of 2 options, respond with a 'Sorry, no, I don't do that' OR 'Yes, I do have the tools to do that and Yes, I CAN do that. Can you give me a few days to work on it?'.  The customer was more than happy to give me a few days to work on things.

So, in a fit I scurried to find all my tools that I stashed in my 'other' jewelry tool bag (you know, the one that weighs a ton because it holds the heavy hitters in there ~ hammers, steel mandrels, steel hammering blocks, steel anvil, you get the picture, heavy stuff).  I excitedly and nervously pulled out all my metal stamping tools (to date) and started the trial and error process.  Let's just say some times trial and error can be pricey (and this was definitely a pricey trial and error process), but after 2-3 flubs I seemed to get the idea and started making things easier on myself.  Things were looking POSSIBLE on this project.

Its amazing when you chat with someone about what you are doing what can develop.  In chatting with my father-in-law about my current venture, he offered me his metal hole punch (with a variety of sizes available).  How AWESOME!  A tool I needed and didn't have to buy.  I was like a kid in the candy store and this was better than Gummy Bears!! Have I ever mentioned I LOVE tools?  Well, I do!  Next item on my list, rivot gun! and more metal stamps! I'm digressing, I need to focus.

So, now I have all the tools I need, the metal stamping is coming along nicely and I seemed to have found my way into something other my ordinary beading.  I did finish that project for my customer and she was very pleased.  She requested custom keychains for her anniversary with a penny from the year they got married.  

I think they turned out pretty good.  I'm  now offering these in my Etsy Shop.  You can order them personalized with your name, a single word, penny year of your choosing, etc..

 (www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift)

So, since taking this leap last week, I have also started to stretch my wings with another little project along the same lines and will SOON offer them in my Etsy Shop too.

I made this necklace for my Mother-in-law for her birthday.  Necklaces will be listed soon and again, will be a personalized, custom order item.

So, again, sometimes you need a change and sometimes you are thrust into change.  Sometimes its painful and sometimes (most times) you will surprise yourself of what you can actually handle (accomplish).  Stayed tuned for more an exciting things as I travel along this new path of creativity and continue to step outside my comfort zone.

Take care and take step outside your comfort zone!

All the best,

Traci

Summertime all the time...

I know I have been a little remiss in looking after this blog and I will try to get a little better at this with Autumn coming at us.  

Bear with me as this post will be a bit jumpy and cover a lot of stuff they may or may not pertain to jewelry making.  :)

My summer has been full of laughter, adventure, family and down-time.  What my summer hasn't had is a lot of jewelry design.  Its not that I have strayed from jewelry design/making (because I have certainly stocked up on great pieces to create with in the coming months), its just that I needed some time away from, well, anything that seemed fast-paced, pressured or had time frames around it.

Throughout the summer I have enjoyed spending an endless amount of time with my family.  We took our first family vacation in 5 years, have gone to the local amusement park a few times, tons of swimming, enjoyed picnics, local sightseeing, birthday parties and anything else that we found interesting.  Its been a complete joy doing all these things with my family.  The laughter and memories we have created I can't put a price tag on.

During the summer I have also seen a few more of my designs published in Bead Trends magazine.

This bracelet was published in May 2012 Bead Trends.  I named the bracelet 'Karen' after my mother and she is now in possession of this bracelet and a copy of this magazine.

These earrings were published in June 2012 Bead Trends.  Summer Blues, available in my Etsy Shop (www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift)

These earrings were published in July 2012 Bead Trends.  Pink Lime Flair.

All photography is courtesy of Bead Trends Magazine (Northridge Publishing).    I love the way they photograph my pieces making them sparkle and look glamorous.  I look forward to seeing my future pieces in print later this year.  

So, with Autumn rushing its way into our lives and my little guy starting kindergarten, you will find me settling into a more routine schedule of designing and making jewelry.  I have been busy scheduling Christmas Markets around the area and will update you all on my schedule in the next few weeks.  Please come back often, visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GettaGiftJewellery and feel free to browse my Etsy Shop at www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift.  I do ship worldwide and promptly.

Until the next blog post, have a great day(s) and hold on to these last days of summer as long as you can.

All the best,

Traci