New Things Happening

I haven't been really good at blogging for the past year...need to get better. Humm, maybe I should have made that a resolution. Nah, probably wouldn't have worked but I can strive to be better.

Lots of changes happening. My ArtFire studio has changed from Dana's Jewelry Design to Sano Therapia but I do still have my Dana's Jewelry Design.com site. Most of the jewelry I make these days are commissions so I really didn't see the need but didn't want to give up my cheap affordable ArtFire studio so I'm changing it to incorporate a little bit of jewelry and a lot of my homemade lotions and ointments.

I'm still teaching at Shipwreck Beads at least 3 times a month so you can find me there and we have loads of fun. New classes this year is a Wire Workshop, Captured Coin and Tree of Life Pendant.

 I made a few more this past weekend in class. Very fun to do.

When you have a favorite coin that you want to preserve.

This class is great for anyone wanting to learn more about working with wire.

I will be participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party. It's always so much fun getting to know other jewelry artists and swapping beads.

Featured in Collections on ArtFire

Wow, I have been blessed this week to be featured in two collections on ArtFire. This first one was curated by Dancing Wind Designs and features Larimar jewelry pieces. Love the color of this stone and it so reminds me of the turquoise blue water of the caribbean.

Lovely Larimar

  Curated By: DancingWindDe...

ArtFire.com

This next collection was curated by Linda of Steider Studios and features some great Pacific Northwest artists. She featured my triple strand Aurora Borealis necklace.

Spring Fever

  Curated By: SteiderStudios

ArtFire.com

To view any of the items, just click on the button that says "View this collection". Each item picture will take you to the shop offering that item for sale.

A New Year

Here we are in 2012 already. Didn't 2011 go by fast? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was making my New Years Resolutions for 2011.... which didn't go too well. I'll have to look back at them to see if I was able to accomplish any of them. I do know that I wanted to have all my Christmas presents made by June or July... that didn't happen but I did make all my presents this past year which I think was a huge accomplishment.

I did get a few new items listed on my ArtFire studio for sale. The one thing I'm not really good at is taking all the photos, fixing them and then getting the items posted. I love making things but it's the other stuff I have a problem with. Still have a ton more to do as I figured it wasn't going to sell itself sitting finished in my studio.

These are just a few of the items that got listed. To check out everything here is the link. Dana's Jewelry Design.

DH is going in for surgery tomorrow, so we are trying to get several jobs around the house completed today as he won't be able to lift heavy things for awhile. Nothing serious but surgery doesn't come without risks and that is what worries me. I guess I'll pack up my sketch book and kindle and try to keep busy at the hospital since not much will get accomplished around here until he is able to come home. Maybe I'll even get some inspiration from being in a different environment for a few days, not sure what kind of inspiration I can get from a hospital but you never know. Just trying to stay positive.

Have a great week and maybe I'll get around to photographing my sketch book for you to see what I've been up to.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale

Well I wouldn't be a very good marketer of my own creations if I didn't tell the world about my wonderful sale. This will be the first time that I have put everything in my shop on sale.... may be the last so here is your chance to get that piece you have been drooling over.

Now through Cyber Monday, November 28th, everything is 30% off plus you will get FREE SHIPPING to anywhere in the US. If you live out of country, you will still get the 30% off.

Wouldn't you love to have this Ruby necklace.... yummy and perfect for any holiday gatherings you might go to. Original price is $90.00 but with the 30% off that would make it $63.00.... WOW, I'd be tempted myself.

How about this beauty. Turquoise and Sterling silver. Turquoise is December's birthstone or at least one of them. Original price of this piece is $80.17 and the sale price would be $56.12. I must have lost my mind since I can't even make a piece with sterling silver in it for that price anymore.

Oh well, my loss is your gain. Better grab it while you can.

Use coupon code BlackFriday2011 for the sale. SHOP NOW BEFORE THE GOOD STUFF IS GONE.

Here is the link to the shop. http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/danasjewelrydesign

Special orders do not receive the discount. Enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

New Jewelry .... Yea

Finally for the past couple of days I have made some new jewelry pieces. Most of these will be listed for sale soon on my ArtFire studio but a couple of the earrings are for a special order. I've been playing with my hobbies for so long that I decided it was time to do a re-do in my studio of the jewelry that's for sale.

These first two necklaces are already for sale. Lots of chain and crystals what could be better.

These pieces are made of either sterling silver or fine silver. I really hate to use my supply of silver on pieces that people may or may not like since it is so expensive. I guess the important thing is that I like them. The Bubble pendant necklaces are my favorite. I was just playing around with some extra links and decided to solder them together in a random pattern. They look really cool on.

I'll be making a few more new pieces tomorrow so we shall see what special things I come up with.

A New Contest by Delphi

ArtFire and Delphi have teamed up to bring us a great contest. This contest titled "Ring of Fire Artist Challenge" is perfect for those that work with glass but they also offer products that any crafter could use.

All you have to do is create a project using one of Delphi's Ring of Fire products (wire mesh, fine silver wire, pressed flowers, KraftyBloks (you know those great glass blocks that you can use for vases and decorating), mirrored tiles and so much more) and upload the picture. Deadline for your project is 6/30/2010. Here is the link to the contest site that explains all the contest rules. Oh, and just for entering their contest you will receive a 1 year subscription of Glass Craftsman Magazine. That's a pretty good deal. I bet you are wondering what you could win......okay well the Grand Prize is a Delphi EZ-Pro Deluxe 15-6 Kiln, yes that's right a kiln for all your glass fusing needs.....humm I wonder if it will work with PMC also. Update, I checked and yes it will work for PMC....yea, now to create something by 6/30.

If you want to check out Delphi's home page and all the wonderful products they have, click the link below.

Good luck and I hope you win....that is if I don't.  LOL

New Handbag Line

I decided that since I love making handbags or should I say all kinds of bags and wanted to keep making them, I have to start selling them. So, I started my new bag line. Currently I have them only listed on my ArtFire Dana’s Jewelry Design studio but may branch out into my 1000 Markets shop also. I have a handbag style (plastic handles), hipster bag that is worn cross body and my pocket bags which are great for traveling or when you just want to carry a few items such as cell phone and a small wallet. The hipster bag will hold about the same as the handbag which is a wallet, cell phone, reading or sunglasses and various other small items. If you like a big bag, these are not the bag for you. Then of course I have my jewelry pouches and drawstring bags which are great for hiding or carrying other things such as sewing kits, jewelry, first aid items, etc.

I’ve thought about setting up a separate shop just for my bags but am not sure. I think if I market them right they will be fine mixed in with the jewelry, gem trees, gem tree supplies, kits and book. Humm, seems like a lot of different things in one shop but so far it’s working.

I’d be curious about what you think, a Bags by Dana shop or leave them as is. Here are a few that I have listed for sale.

The pictures are a little fuzzy as I sized them down to load them on ArtFire. If you want to view this studio, here is the link. http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&sc_id=74435&seller_id=35055&op=new

I hope you are having a good weekend. Oh and for other unique gifts, check out ArtFire.