Thankful Thursday

(iPhonography by yours truly)

Today, I am thankful for the medical care available to us. 

Sometimes this is taken for granted, but we are truly blessed to have great health care.  

My kiddo has been sick this week and our doctor is fantastic.

Hope you have an awesome day and think about all the good things in your life. :)

All the best,

Traci

A little photography update...

Photographing my jewelry has been the most dreaded task for me since I started creating & selling it.  The daunting chore of trying to capture the colors, texture & essence of the piece.  

I've been snapping hundreds of pictures & editing pictures for the last several days and have completed the switch over for the great majority of my Etsy Shop.  All in all I've been pleased with the results, but I do think my photography will always be something that I need to slow down and focus on (no pun intended).  

Here are a few pictures of what's come out of my many hours of re-photographing and editing.  

 

All pieces are available in my Etsy Shop at www.etsy.com/shop/downtownglam

All the best,
Traci

Thankful Thursday...

 

(iPhonography by yours truly, Pyramid Lake, Jasper, AB)

I thought it may be fun to have one day per week just to acknowledge 1 thing I'm thankful for.   I think in our day to day hustle & bustle we sometimes forget about the many things we are blessed with. So to start it off, for my 1st Thankful Thursday;

I am thankful for my family.

Nothing more needed, just a simple appreciation for a blessing in my life.

Please feel free to join in.  What are you thankful for?

All the best,

Traci 

Photography, trying to get it right...

So, I've been doing jewelry design for 2 years, but have always kind just got by with the photography end of it.  I'm going to try to get it right this year.  Christmas 2011 my hubby bought me a great photo light studio.  The photo booth is great, but again, I have just not taken this photography seriously, so the pictures are still so so.  

Today, I decided I would take a trip to our local home renovations store and buy a nice floor tile to use as a base for my jewelry.  I'm trying to standardize my pictures for listings, make the details of my work show off instead of the background.  This evening I had plenty of jewelry to photograph and all in all, I'm pretty pleased.   Here are some of the fruits of my labor this evening;

I just love that floor tile I bought, kind of wishing I could put that down in my kitchen and hall, but somehow, I'm thinking its not in the budget.  All I could afford was 1 tile ($5 for a 12"X12" tile = ouch to the pocketbook)  :(

Anyway, hoping this new tile brings me some luck in the photo booth for many months to come. 

All the best,
Traci

January 2013, New Year, New Focus...

My goodness, its been some time since I have blogged, but to be honest I wasn't very consistent to begin with. :)  Well, its a new year, a new beginning, a clean slate, a time to reflect on the past, a time to focus on the coming year, a time to make goals.  

On a personal note, I have to say 2012 was a pretty good year for me and my family.  We had many great 'adventures', lots of laughter and our home was always filled with love.   This year we expect more great 'adventures' and exploring of the world around us, many more laughs and yes, plenty of family hugs & a house filled with love.

On the jewelry business side, I had a good year.  This month makes 2 years since I started to design and hand-make jewelry.  I have certainly enjoyed it, even when I have hit a creative brick wall, and I have seen my improvements over the 2 years.  I have been very fortunate to have met and become friends with many wonderful people in the last 2 years.  I also have been privileged to have some of my designs featured in Bead Trends Magazine.  (Below is a collage of my published work in 2012.) 

 In 2013, I have decided to make only one true goal for myself personally and professionally, to be happy & content.  I'm always grateful for what I have, I have learned what mountains vs. mole hills are,  I feel like the luckiest person alive for the people I have in my life, but I have always struggled with feeling content.  I am learning that I don't need to be the showiest, center stage type.   I just plan on living my life for me and letting go of what I think I should be.  I think I'm a pretty good person, maybe plain and simple to some, but its who I am.  I'm a Mommy, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a friend, occasional runner, gardener, camper, explorer, jewelry designer and just plain old Traci. In the end, I'm happy to be 'plain old Traci', I know I'm loved by many and look forward to what will be in the coming year.

May your year be filled with lots of great 'adventures'.

All the best,
Traci

Busy Season and October Bead Trends...

Time certainly has been flying by lately and I've been busy as a bee making jewellery for my upcoming Christmas Market Season!  I love doing Christmas Markets and overhearing people's observations of my jewellery.  This year I am really excited and a whole lot of nervous.  I have booked myself every weekend in November for a Christmas Market, some a single day, some 3 days!  But thanks to the love and support of my awesome family I know I will get through them with a smile on my face.  

My upcoming Christmas Market schedule is;

Getta Gift! Jewellery

 Upcoming Christmas Markets

November 3 & 4, 2012 - Elbow Springs Winter Market at the Elbow Springs Golf Club.  

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

November 11, 2012 - Fort Calgary Christmas Artisan Market at Fort Calgary. 

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

November 16-18, 2012 - Kananaskis Country Christmas in Redwood Meadows.  

Redwood Meadow Golf Clubhouse.  

*Friday, November 16, 2012 – 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. *

*Saturday, November 17 & Sunday, November 18, 2012 – 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.*

November 24, 2012 – Cochrane Ranche House Christmas Market. 

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Another published piece...

My 'Autumn Bee' Bracelet was featured in Bead Trends October 2012 Issue.  Whenever I submit something to Bead Trends I hold my breath for a few days waiting (impatiently) to see if I will receive 'the' email and once in a while I get lucky. :)  I was quite excited about this bracelet because the way I put it together is quite different than any thing I have made before.  I used a lovely Bee focal from Spirited Earth and combined it with Boro Lampwork Beads from SeaShore Glass, the combination was a delight for me.  Then I added czech glass, reconstructed turquoise and antique brass to complete the project.  I love how Bead Trends photographed it and am seriously thinking about keeping this one for myself, time will tell. :)  Its also always an honor to have your project featured among so many other beautiful artisan pieces.

Autumn Bee by Getta Gift! Jewellery

Photography by Bead Trends Magazine

OK, this was a quick little update, but I need to scoot, lots of prep to do before the weekend.  If your local I hope to see you out at one of my many Christmas Markets.

Take care and stay safe,

Traci

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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