another one

Riiiiiing!

This was going to be a regular ol' ring, and then I thought to make it a SPECIAL RING. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25782139
I think it's pretty neat, anyway. I will probably make more in the future, but not sure I can do them to order as I'm not entirely sure how to get the sizing down. Since the band isn't round it doesn't measure as accurately as I'd like on my mandrel. We will see.

I also have way too many projects planned than can be completed in the time frame I'd like. 1 pendant in the works, 3 to be started (one of which is pretty complex), 2 pairs of earrings started, one to be started, oi.

Plenty of rings to be made as well but since that's the bulk of my shop I'm trying to do some other stuff for a bit. I also want more bracelets in the shop, so after this round of pieces is done I'll get on that.

We had a schooling show at the barn today which was really nice. I kind of kick myself for not riding in it, but at this point it's kind of hit or miss with whether or not I can ride like I need to for Cho mare. I don't need to pay for a judge to tell me things I already know, and I feel like I've beaten the intro tests to death. I am ready to MOVE ON. The next one is in July...maybe our cantering will be excellent by then and I can try training level? Or maybe we'll actually have a canter and I can at least try? Riding both of the ponies tomorrow as I am motivated!

one for now

I was going to list everything tonight but ran into the problem I have frequently:
I forgot to size the ring
and
I can't remember for SURE what length chain I used.

Oops.

One is better than nothing though, right?

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25744531

the sun is coming out to-day

Which is perfect timing for my 2 new necklaces...

(here is a little preview)

(the pictures are really awful because I took them at 11pm under my daylight bulb)

(it is important that the sun is coming out today so I can take proper pictures)

(PARENTHETICAL STATEMENTS)

"Sunny Side UP" (I told you it was a preview)

Mexican Fire Opal & Sterling

(Ok, you can see the whole picture of this one)

"little wonder still wanders amongst the sky, looking down at all the people who live and die. and when one stops to mourn their grief, she whispers: 'i survived to see the sun, please look around and see the things we have done.'" -grievance (Per chance you ever come across this blog, I am sorry I do not know more of your name, but I think in the spirit of B that is ok. -lw)

I seem to have custom orders in a steady stream, one at a time. I like this.

I am mighty sad after last night's fiasco. It wasn't really a fiasco. I was setting a stone for a new pair of earrings that I ADORE, by the way, and one of the little silver pebbles informed me it was not actually soldered.

><

I suppose I need to give it a little credit, as it passed all of my solder tests. Pliers, pickle, and even the tumbler. It held out until the very end. Good thing I found out though...I would be horrified to know I sent something into another's hands like that. Oi oi. Also good because I wasn't DONE setting the stone so I think I was able to salvage the bezel. This is what happens, by the way, when you stubbornly use one kind of solder through all 4 or however many solder steps you have. Yes, I solder in stages, and yes, 95% of the time I always use hard solder. I don't know why...it's just what I've done since the beginning of time, pretty much. Apparently the little pebble came UN-soldered when I soldered on the ear wire. I'll fix it tonight and throw it in with the next batch.

And I will probably keep soldering the way I do because that is how I do it. I will just have to up the anty on the solder tests.

Feeling much renewed on the pony front after a solid ride last night. We're working it out. We're getting there.

Check it out!

8 questions with me on the Handmade MN team blog...

http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2009/05/eight-questions-withjessica-sawyer.html

That's my omgsoexcited face!

NEW.

Well, new to the shop. I finished it in April! (You may be horrified to know that if I finished all of my cast work my shop would be DOUBLED in size).

Twiggy Ring is now listed ---

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25566495

You may also be interested in knowing that I am eating super delicious Honolulu Cookie Company shortbread. Or maybe not.

A couple of shots of espresso later...

and I'm still fighting with my eyelids.

Polished up a few things last night:

pause ring (like this)

Another landscape ring (oh, like this...not sure what color stones to use this time around...)

A weighty, super shiny super mod pendant that I don't have pictures of, the sweet modmod new design (that needs repolishing because it has a little spot I seem to have missed), and a made-to-order kona CUFF.

Oh, also I have a mookaite necklace that could have been finished like...last week...but I've been really lazy about it. Don't get me wrong, I love the necklace and I'm really happy with how it turned out. It just needs to be oxidized, polished, satin finish, stone set. Easy...I just need to DO it. I'm really bad about getting stuff to ALMOST done and then getting super excited about the next thing. And then I have a pile of jewelry that needs finishing touches and it ends up taking me the better part of a day to do it all. (Yay for...focus?)

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

I have a hard time reading etsy customers. I mean, I think it's pretty much futile. I want to have items that I keep stocked semi-regularly, but I can never figure out what those should be.

I have a few items that have been really popular OUTSIDE of etsy, but no one has bitten on etsy. I think there really is something to be said for being able to see a piece and touch it in person, though clearly there is plenty of success on etsy without that.

So, I try not to think about it too much (because honestly, if you do it will make you crazyinthehead). I think most importantly I need to just keep making stuff I'm driven to make. That was the plan all along, of course. Of course of course.

And, for the time being, I have the freedom to make it for ME. I'm not burdened by having to pay bills and making enough sales so I (or my horses) can eat. That, I have to say, is very very nice.

bursting from the seams

[As I write this, Ishtar aka ninja kitty is attempting to disembowel her needle felted crow. That is wonderful and everything but I sure do wish she'd stop peeing on the carpet :/]

I haven't been able to make jewelry like I've wanted to.

I don't know if that will change as long as I have a full time job. All day long my thoughts wander to metal and stones (oh, especially stones) and stamps and such. I have designs on every piece of paper around me. Today on the way to dinner I said "I really would just like to go touch my cabochons."

And it was true. I have a bit of a collection now, and oh oh oh they are simply wonderful. When I don't know what else to do I open up each little plastic drawer one by one and look at each of them. [There is a big thread going on the etsy forums about misnamed stones...it's become somewhat of a collection of rock hounds anonymous and it is fantastic.]

My stone binge has come to a pause...2 horses rack up a hefty vet bill for vaccinations alone and bills come before pretties, unfortunately. It's alright, though. There will be bigger packages soon to come as I ordered...

drum roll...

a flex shaft!

and an acetylene/air torch!

This torch dilemma was a dilemma indeed. I do hope that this new one will fill my needs.

Who knew that in less than 5 months of opening my etsy shop I would feel the need to expand so rapidly? I thought I would be fine working within my limitations, but after a few attempts to make some larger pieces and failing because they couldn't get hot enough, I needed

more
fire.

Working as an artist outside of an educational atmosphere is different indeed. I don't really know why...maybe because I know I have forever to make jewelry and not just a semester. I mean, my last semester I pretty much designed my syllabus. I had free reign to make whatever I felt like. Now I'm discovering stones and techniques and things faster than I can process and my hands just can't work fast enough.

Ramble ramble ramble.

I have 2 big pieces that have been sitting around waiting for more fire. The first is a pendant I designed and made before I wandered over to etsy land and it may not be for sale. One of my 2 remaining bruneau canyon jaspers is going into it and it is a design and piece I'm a bit partial to. And, well, I'm ohsoinlove with bruneau jasper. I got this stuff for a steal several years ago and I want to keep it all to myself.

Methinks it is time to stop rambling and maybe start sleeping.