Predicament.

There are worse predicaments to be in, for sure. I have so much new stuff I can't remember what has been posted where. (I know where everything has not been posted, and that is etsy).

I'm currently finishing things up, picking up old projects, etc. When I'm in the mood to do that I take advantage, as it doesn't happen very often.

These actually aren't old projects, but one of the rings WAS started before the open house in October. So I guess that is kind of old.

My mission this week is to get everything listed on etsy before I leave for my Thanksgiving holiday. The shop will remain open during this time, but orders will not be shipping out til the following Wednesday.

Pinke Lady Stack, Size 9 (peruvian pink opal and cultured freshwater pearl):

Purple People Eater Ring, Size 8 (sugilite and sterling):

And, my favorite, Peacock Ring featuring a wee cut of burro creek jasper, size 6ish:

Pomegranate earrings with 3mm garnet:

Off to edit the never ending photos!

RA RA A-A-A

For someone whose first love is photography, I seem to have one hell of a time with the concept of photography + blog. Very, very rarely is my camera the first thing I grab. Never do I think "Oh! Photo for the blog!"

And for that, I apologize. I try. But I hate lugging around my SLR and the rechargeable battery is only good for a few hours. I need a new one but I'm cheap. Why spend $30 on a battery when I can buy cabochons?

Instead of bothering, I will just distract you with ponies.

I'm also a bit (just a touch) horrified at my lack of shop updates. Do you know what I have to list? Of course you don't, because I suck at taking pictures.

Off the top of my head --

1. All sterling horseshoe necklace

2. Sterling/copper horseshoe 'lucky' necklace

3. Personalized copper/sterling horseshoe halter tags

4. 2 pairs of bead dangly wire wrappage earrings (do you think they'll sell better if I call them this?)

5. 1 pair of lulas with onyx

6. pomegranate earrings

7. 2 lumplings rings

8. sugar cub earrings

9. lil lulas with jade

And I have 3 rings to finish up tonight with other things (always other things) on my soldering board.

I like not being frantic anymore. The pressure of a show lends to productivity, but I do enjoy having my freedom. I like that I can go back to what I do. I draw and then I start. And I figure it out along the way. Before I opened this shop I never made anything twice. Once I completed the challenge of figuring out how to make what's on paper work in metal I basically forgot about it...time for something new. Which may or may not also explain why I haven't been feeling any pressure to photograph and list.

I'm distracted by shiny things.

And ponies.

And the winner is...

In the interest of saving time, I decided to use a random number generator. It's fast! It's random! It doesn't involve bits of paper to end up on my floor for the cat to eat! And, I can be kind of lazy like that.

ANYWAY. The winner of the earrings is...


RACHEL! Please contact me with your address so I can get them sent off to you! (and congratulations!)

Thanks to everyone who participated - fear not - there will be more opportunities in the future.

xoxo
Jessi

cholula goes gold.

A couple (ok, several...) months ago, I was commissioned by 3 ladies to make 3 lovely (18k gold) rings.

As much as I've been trying to slowly bow out of lost wax casting, I know I can't. There are just things you can do with wax that you can't with fabrication and I'm hooked.

So is everyone else.

These are the first 2, finished and polished and ready to go. I am mighty proud of them and hope that there is a market to make more.



The second I have a mold of and it can be made in silver as well. I have 2 to finish for the shop, actually...



The halter tags are a big hit at the barn...they will be in the shop as a made to order item!

horseshoes

This has been in the back of my mind for ages.
I'm not really sure what took me so long, but here is the first of (hopefully) many more to come:

These will be available for customized stamping as well. I'm gonna have one that says

Z & Cho

cos those are my ponies.

I am also making (and have made a bunch, now) copper with silver horseshoe halter tags. Yes, PONY JEWELRY. Zeus has the first and a bunch of other horses in the barn are soon to follow!

-------

We also have a little Southwest number. Is every silversmith introduced into this world via turquoise and sterling?

It reminds me of the fancy conchos that adorn gaudy Western pleasure saddles. Except not so fancy. Or gaudy. It was just going to be plain silver but I couldn't resist throwing in the turquoise. Just couldn't do it.

(Actually, if we're going to be honest, thise was supposed to be part of a desert necklace that's been on my bench for a bit. I made it slightly too large, though...so it ended up scrap. !)

And then we have some earrings. I've been meaning to teach myself how to wire wrap for awhile. I bought a bunch of vintage beads over a year ago with the intention of making a bunch of simple earrings...but they weren't cutting it for me. After spending a weekend in wire wrap central (aka open house) I decided I needed to do this asap. So here they be with squared ear wires which are quickly becoming my favorite -- I've tried out so many different things in the ear wire department and these have come the closest to sticking around for sure!

mit vintage beads --

und rose quartz --

(yeah. That's JUST what I need...a bead addiction on top of the cab addiction. Sigh.)

I won't get to photographing until this weekend, but they should be listed in the near future!

And don't forget to enter le give away!!

GIVE AWAY!

There are a few things to celebrate in order:

1. I reached 50 etsy sales! Sometimes I think about how slow this little business goes, but then I remind myself that I've been at this less than a year. 50 sales is a big deal.

2. My birthday! (I think birthdays should be special and celebrated and the best days ever).

In celebration, I present you with the Thursday Earrings, made of sterling and turquoise:

They are a little rough around the edges, a little worn, just the way I like my jewelry.

THE RULES:

1. Comment here to enter!

Yes, that's it.

Here are some chances for extra entries:
2. Facebook about this post and contest!
3. Blog about this post and contest!
4. Give me a music suggestion. This could be a song or a band or a person - anything that you've been listening to and think more people should hear!
5. Visit my etsy shop and let me know what your favorite piece is - past or present.

And remember to let me know in the comments if you've done any extras, else I will not know!

Give away ends on Monday, November 16th. I will draw a winner on the 17th.

Please, DON'T BE SHY! Even if you've never commented before, I encourage anyone and everyone to enter :)

busy busy

I seem to be joining the ranks of the blog ignorers lately.

I promise it's been for a good cause. The past weekend was my BIRTHDAY WEEKEND (oh yes, it requires at least 4 days of merriment) and Rex flew up to spend it with me.

We:
-went to a pumpkin patch in the freezing cold, wind, and rain only to find a whole lot of rotted pumpkins.
-carved pumpkins later purchased at the grocery store all hours of the night.
-saw where the wild things are.
-slept in! a lot!
-picked out not one but 2 mini birthday cakes because I am quite indecisive when it comes to everything.

Among other things.

I am officially now a quarter of a century old.

And the day after my birthday I came down with an awful cold that has left me useless to the world. I was feeling slightly better earlier today, but it seems to have gotten worse again. The congestion just might

kill me.

I have a trunk show tomorrow, though, so here's to hoping I get better and FAST!

On the jewelry front I've been making some halter tags for ponies, horseshoe necklaces and a smattering of various other pieces that I think these ladies will enjoy.

I have 5 customers patiently waiting for their custom orders to be finished.

I have no pictures of anything because I've been getting home after dark. Insert sad face here.

I do, however, have a picture that I just finished editing yesterday of my friend Angie and her fiance, Nate::::


Aren't they precious? We had fun taking their photos. Or I had fun. I guess I can't speak for them.