The "Non-Reveal" Post

Some of you may be wondering what I'm up to these days.  Others of you already have some idea.   It's probably obvious I'm not producing new items at the rate I should be, so I'll explain a little, I just can't show you photos yet...

Often I'm in challenges and post a "reveal" page at the end of the challenge to show what I've made.   Until that time, development on the project is typically kept quiet so the results will be a surprise to all involved.   Those of you who have been involved in challenges, or have read about them, know what I mean.   The same is true of publishing.  Most magazines stipulate that there will be no public showing of your jewelry until after it has been published by the magazine that has accepted it for publication.   

I'm not sure how each of you feel about sharing custom order work you are doing for customers, but I follow a  strict code of privacy here as well.     Perhaps that comes in part from my library background where patron confidentiality is paramount.    Perhaps it comes in part from following too many royal weddings and hearing how no one knows who the royal dressmaker will be or what the bride's dress will look like!   ha!

Regardless, I don't share photographs of a custom order I'm working on, until the customer and I mutually agree on a time I may share it with others.  I typically don't ask until I feel the time is appropriate.   If that sounds stricter than necessary, it may be, but that's just the way I work.

Now, none of this was meant to be a lecture, or to say one way is better than another, it's just background for my story to explain what I've been working on...and will continue to work on for a few more weeks!     I've decided to share a little of the news now, because I've finally hit a milestone today!  Yippee!

The truth is, a close family member who is very dear to me is getting married near the end of June.     I'm making the jewelry for her and her wedding party!   I've mentioned this vaguely to some of you a few times, but not discussed in any detail on my blog until now.    As the time draws nearer, I'll tell you a little more about the project, lessons I've learned,  and may have a few questions for you too!   

When I began working on this many months ago, I thought, "I design jewelry, I have plenty of lead time, I can do this!   No problem!"    I spent several months just planning, designing, and ordering supplies.    Well, turns out I had some things to learn and to figure out.    I've redesigned and reordered materials several times since!      Everything has finally been planned, ordered, and has arrived!

Here are the jewelry pieces I'll be providing for this event:

Bride:

• necklace
• bracelet
• earrings

Bridesmaids:   (7 )

• necklaces   (8 done!  X)
• bracelets   (7 done!  X)
• earrings
• gifts for rehearsal

In addition, I'm making a "backup" necklace for both the bride and a bridesmaid and an extra pair of earrings for "just in case" last minute disasters.   AND I'll be taking my pliers to the wedding!    (There have been some jokes floating about regarding me wearing a tool belt to the wedding with my dress!)   ;-)

I started "production" with the 7 bridesmaid's bracelets.  And today, finished the last of the bridesmaids' necklaces, all 8 of them  (7 + a spare).   This has been the most worrisome part for me, and the part with the most repetition--also difficult for me.  (You know I'm a one-of-a-kind designer... so this held its own challenges!)      I feel like the hardest part is over though, and I'm on my way now!   

Hopefully, I'll be able to show you photos when the wedding is over, but for now, my bride is getting the "royal treatment!"   ;-)

What a learning-growing experience this has been and so worth every minute!   Thank goodness I have such a delightful, cooperative, go-with-the-flow, lovely young woman to work with.   As usual, I've learned so much I never even dreamed I would need to know.   

I'm so honored to be involved in her wedding in this way and hope that the jewelry turns out just the way she would like it.   She deserves the very best!

Thanks to all of you who have wished me good luck and offered support.   When I finish in a couple of weeks, I'll celebrate, then get back to business as usual.  Best wishes to all of you in this happy season of weddings and Spring!

~Sharyl

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Image Credits:

http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/words/punctuation/.cache/question_mark_drawn.png

http://www.wpclipart.com/clothes/hats/crown/tiara_1.jpg

http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/wedding/bride_groom_1.png

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Feeling Squished

I should have photo examples for you, but I don't.   Just a question I'd like some input on!  

I'm wanting to make a functional work space.   

First, I'll tell you my dilemma.    I currently work in 3 locations:

1) Office/Workspace-- A very small former bedroom that I use both as an office for my library job I do remotely and for my beadwork, bead storage, photography, storage of mailing supplies, storage of jewelry ready to sell, equipment such as embosser, paper cutter, etc.   It's so crowded I have a small table on top of a larger table.  The small table has my light tent on it.   Biggest problem:   a futon....nice to rest on, but takes up too much room.   Advantage:  Have most of my things together.  Would like to have more so I wouldn't have to run from room-to-room.

2) Garage-- I use a small portion of a kitchen-cabinet turned work bench that holds my metal-working tools and equipment.  There are handtools such as my collection of 4 (garage) hammers, dapping blocks, disc cutter, stamps, files, saws, and more.  There are larger pieces of equipment such as a grinder/buffer and a tumbler, as well as sheets of copper and brass.   Everything is always laying on top of everything else as my husband and I inch our way toward the center zone for more territory.   Only there is no more territory.   Biggest problem:  Not climate controlled, too little space.   Advantage:  keeps noisy tools out of the main part of house.

3) Kitchen-- My latest take-over.   Never in my life have I spent so much time in the kitchen!   And still no food to show for it!     I moved the antiquing and patina processing of my metal components indoors when it was in the 100s this summer.  It's still over 90 degrees many days.  This winter it will be too cold for the garage.  So I cut and hammer  and file metal in the garage, then rush in to the kitchen to finish the process.  Problem?   This is anything but tidy-looking in a pretty open area of the house.   I used to move it every day, then found myself moving it several times a day, until it just came to rest there permanently.   Advantage:   Right near the sink and water.   Both the kitchen and garage have cabinets and work table that are high enough I can stand and not bend over.  My back is grateful!  




Okay, so any ideas on how I "FIX" this?

• My first thought is to move the futon out of the workroom and move in.... cabinets?....or a work bench?... or a tall table?....so I can gather my tools together.   (Wish I had running water though!  It's not like I have to go "fetch a pail" though.  It's just around the corner!)

• Expanding in the kitchen or the garage are not really options.

• Moving to the basement is an option.  I can connect to the internet, there is running water, built in cabinets (short ones though, but lots of them), windows (it's a walk out basement).  There's much more room, it just has to be "repurposed."    Down-sides:   It's an open shared space so I don't have the ability to shut a door when I'm working my library job and need quiet.     I'd have to take the stairs several times a day which is not easy for me.   In bad weather, I'd be sharing the space with our pet dog and I'm allergic to dander...which is why he stays downstairs and I stay upstairs.   Hmmm....

• Keep things as they are and go nuts?  :-)

Ideas?   What suggestions do you have for me?   Any links to photos?   Suggestions for work tables/benches/cabinets that work well or don't work well?   

Any and all ideas welcome!  Funny stories are welcome!  Wild, crazy brainstorming is welcome!

Thanks for your help in getting me "unsquished" and organized!

Sharyl

P.S.  If you have a similar question or problem, please feel free to post that in the comments too!  Maybe someone will have a suggestion for you as well!

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Tool bench:  http://www.wpclipart.com/tools/hand_tools/toolbox/workbench.jpg

Downstairs: http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/BW/stairs_elevator/.cache/stairs_down.png

Upstairs:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/BW/stairs_elevator/.cache/stairs_up.png

Cairn Terrier:  http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/dogs/C/.cache/Cairn_Terrier.png

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Art Jewelry Elements Blog Hop--Metals

"Everyone Starts Somewhere" Blog Hop -- Entry #11

Jennifer Cameron from the Art Jewelry Elements group blog asked that we consider a jewelry-related skill and show how far we've come over a period of time.    I was immediately reminded of the photography comparison I did last fall compared to photos I had taken the year before.   Oh my, my cheeks are still red from embarrassment.   (Do you remember?  If not, good!   I won't link them up to remind anyone!  ha!)    

And yet, I'm here now doing something similar all over again!    Last year, I decided I wanted to learn to make at least one type of jewelry component myself.   I thought it would be nice to say I had actually made some piece of my jewelry, and perhaps eventually be able to share what I would make with others.

I set as one of my goals for the year to explore various types of beads and components there are, see what might be a good fit for me, then give it a try.   I wasn't even very hard on myself.  When I first started making my own earring pieces I was suddenly prouder of my jewelry.   Just a little thing, but I had made that part myself.   I kept reading and exploring...

One day Melinda Orr started talking about working with metals.   I started listening to every word.  And before you know it, I was watching videos and buying tools and copper and brass and embossing equipment, patinas, and more.  I'm loving it!  

I'm still new to metal work, and want to learn so much more, but I've learned a few things since I started!    For example, this was an early piece I posted in the Spring asking for help...

Do you see what is wrong here?  I knew I had a problem, but was totally appalled when I saw the photo enlarged on the screen in Facebook.  Never mind that the metals aren't evenly bent.

Look at those Razor-sharp edges!  I did have the notion I should round off the pointed corners, but wasn't filing the edges properly.  I had designed jewelry that could be used as weapons!    

The usual helpful, in-the-know folks on the Creative Bead Chat Facebook group set me straight right away.  Thank you!  There have been other times like this, but enough with the stories, and on with the photos!

Early lessons: I learned to properly file the edges, and to use a grinder/buffer on larger pieces.

 

 An etched, hammered and shaped piece for a pendant--

far from perfect, but an improvement.

I began doing more embossing and using various color techniques with the metals: 

Brass earring dangles I embossed and colored with patinas.

And more playing with patinas:

Earring Dangles

Bracelet cuff

Efforts to shape metals:

Bails that won't stay closed...

Bails that do stay closed...They even look better this way!

Lesson from today... Liver of Sulphur.  

A new bail.

(Never dreamed it would get this dark this quickly! 

It was only in the solution a moment!)

I haven't wire-wrapped this one yet, obviously.

More examples from the "dip" today:

 Needs more practice.

I made them dark, I made them lighter again.

These can be on the next "when I was new" list!

Now, to see more before/after skills, 

we'll return to the "Everyone Starts Somewhere" edition of the....

Art Jewelry Elements Blog!

Thanks for visiting!

Sharyl ~  Sharyl's Jewelry

...Or click to see more 

"Components by Sharyl"

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Number Pattern Fascination: Time to be Grateful

Look what time it is!!!

I love number patterns and always have.  Don't ask me why.   When the clock turns to 12:34, I'm excited every single time!   Same is true for 11:11.  10:10?  You betcha!   3:33...great thrill!    (Am I easily entertained or do I have a compulsion?   I've never really wanted to know since I derive such pleasure from my fascination with number sequences!)


I'm looking forward to December 12 this year (12/12/12), but we've have other good ones in the last few years too:   (01/01/01 and 11/11/11, for instance)


So I can't help but be intrigued by a few statistics in my own world at the moment:

• Facebook Fans:   111
• Blog Followers:    88

As you might guess, I just love it when this happens!   :-)

Here are a few other statistics and "fun facts" to know and tell, even if their number patterns are not so exciting:

In all, I've written 207 blog entries since publishing my first on June 16, 2011.

182 of those have been published.

(Sort of makes you wonder what happened to the other 25!)

My first entry was called, "Jewelry Design - My Unique Philosophy."    Although I'm a little embarrassed of some of those earliest blog entries, I have to admit that this particular one sounds like I could have just written it.  Every bit of it is still true, and that's likely because it is not much impacted by trends and fads, but it is at the core of what I believe and do.

When I started, I personally welcomed every new member to the blog!   There was a "Welcome" sign and I would tell a little about the person if I could find the info online.   I wanted to encourage conversation and a feeling of community on this blog, and welcoming and introducing new people seemed like a good start!    It think I made it to around 25.   Then Blogger went wacko, kept removing and adding people at will, and I could no longer tell who was really here and who wasn't.   I had to stop for a while.   By the time it was fixed, we had gained quite a few new members and it was hard to figure out who was new and when they came.   So, I'm sorry, but my individual  personal welcomes came to an end then.  

Welcome!

I do still want you to know though, that whatever the situation, no matter how much we grow, and no matter how cool the number sequences, :-)...   I continue to appreciate you being here very much.   Your readership, comments, and support mean so much to me!      You've helped me learn about jewelry making, beads, photography, tools, workspace, techniques, business, and so much more!   I hope you have gained something from being here too.

You helped me decide to open a store on ArtFire!

Did you know I now offer
a line of "Components by Sharyl?"

It's been a little over a year now, and I hope you'll stick with me for another year.   Please tell your friends.   Contribute as much as you would like to.   Contact me if you are interested in being featured or have a topic you would like to see discussed.   

Hieroglyphic Numbers, Anyone?

(See why I need your feedback?!)

I'll keep looking for interesting things for us to look at and learn about.   ...and all the interesting number patterns I can find!   ;-)  

Happy July!  Stay cool!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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Graphic Credits:

Clock:  http://www.wpclipart.com/time/alarm/alarm_clock.jpg

Statistics Chart:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/icons_oversized/big_icons_2/statistics_symbol_bar_chart.jpg

Flower:  http://www.wpclipart.com/black-eyed_susan_thumb.jpg

Sharyl's Jewelry Logo:  by Andrew Nelson c. 2011

Earring Components by Sharyl:  http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/SharylsJewelry/4801420/brass_and_copper_textured_and_domed_pieces_2_copper_2_brass/Jewelry/Handmade_Jewelry_Supplies/Natural_Materials

Hieroglyphic numbers:   http://www.wpclipart.com/hieroglyphs/numbers.png

Sun:  http://www.wpclipart.com/weather/sun/sun_5/.cache/sun_wearing_sunglasses.png

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Blog Salad Today!

1. Those of you receiving bead packets for the challenge,  if I haven't heard from you yet, would you please reply here and let me know if you've received your packet?   (I don't have to post your comment if you prefer not, but it's an easy way for me to find it quickly.)   I think I've heard from 2 of you so far.   Once everyone has their packet, I'll set a date for the reveal!

2. I tend to ask questions at the end of posts when I should ask more toward the beginning, so trying it in reverse!   Recently I asked:  What is your favorite tool to use in jewelry-making?   Just curious!    Someone recently asked me to put up a bit in a Facebook group that I wrote on tools when I first started my blog.   I'll put the link in here too in case you want some "retro-reading!"    

I've got some new cool tools recently (and a few I'm finding not-so-cool I could use some tips with).  Hoping we can all share!

3. I'm extending my Spring sale through the end of April!  I'm still adding new things for Spring and Summer and hope to give people a chance to take advantage of the savings!   Please help me spread the word if you would!   My thanks to those you who have already done so!

Little Bit of Everything Earrings

Blue Stick Earrings

Turquoise "Hope" Bracelet

There are more in the camera, waiting to be listed, and more pieces nearly completed!   Many new styles coming too!   Hope you'll be pleasantly surprised!  ~Sharyl

Sharyl's Jewelry

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Graphics: 

Toolbox:  http://www.wpclipart.com/tools/hand_tools/toolbox/.cache/red_metal_toolbox.png

Photographs by Sharyl, 2012

Tools and Tool Give-away!

Remember those goals 

I set for the new year?   

I've been busy at work on one of them--developing skills for making a jewelry component.   If you follow me on Facebook, you likely know what that is already!   If not, I'll be talking about it in a post soon and the tools I've been collecting to do that work.  

Speaking of tools, 

I know of a tool give-away... 

...that might be of interest to some of you!   Over on Lori Anderson's "Pretty Things" blog, she's holding a drawing for a set of Impress Art Letter Stamps.  They are used for stamping letters into metal and the font is new and fun! There is also a stamping hammer.  These are premium tools that PJTools has donated for the give-away, so if you do metal work (or would like to), you'll likely want to go to Lori's site to read up on the give-away and the tools themselves!   Lucky the winner of that give-away!

Meanwhile, 

I'd like to know what YOUR favorite tool is and what you use to do.  

Please share in a comment to this post!   

Until next time, 
Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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Graphics:


Tool box:  http://www.wpclipart.com/tools/hand_tools/toolbox/.cache/red_metal_toolbox.png


Question Guy:  http://www.wpclipart.com/blanks/callouts/eyeball_character/.cache/bubble_eyeball_character_question.png

New "Creative Bead Chat Group" Forming on FB: $400 of Give-away Prizes!

 

15 lucky people will win! 

 ~valued over $400~ 

of amazing handcrafted jewelry, components 

and gift certificates

Names will be chosen next Tuesday, 

March 27th ~ 

This event will be for members only ~ 

• This brand new Facebook group already has nearly 400 members and is growing quickly.  It's a discussion you won't want to miss out on...  and now a GIVE-AWAY you won't want to miss either!

• Want to be a part?   Just go to this page on Melinda Orr Designs' blog which contains: 

  

An invitation to the Creative Bead Chat Group and Huge Giveaway.

• There is a link you click to request to join the group on Facebook.  Simple as that!  

• There are great conversations going on.  (I've had a very inspirational conversation just tonight with Melinda Orr herself and learned so much!)   

• In this group there is a constant flow of people sharing jewelry photos, techniques, tools, methods of learning, marketing, and more!  It's very supportive--no matter your experience level.  

I think you may like this a lot!   I know I do, so I wanted to make you aware of this opportunity to share (and to win)!

Best wishes, good luck with the contests, and happy learning!

Sharyl / Sharyl's Jewelry

P.S.  There's a "March Madness" sale going on in "Sharyl's Jewelry" studio.  Items in the "On Sale Now" section are marked down to crazy-low prices...some 1/2 off! 

I don't do a big mark-up on my jewelry and try to keep prices low always, but I'm lowering prices on these items to try to make room for new ones!   Hope you visit and see something there you like!   

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Excited Girl Graphic: http://www.wpclipart.com/people/faces/girl_faces/face_and_body/excited_girl.jpg

Windy:  http://www.wpclipart.com/weather/wind/.cache/windy_5.png 

My Holiday Investment

This may surprise you, but I came into a sum of money over the holidays, ... and not one to let things like that sit in my pocket, I immediately invested it.   You might guess I bought beads, but not this time.  No, think bigger and taller.


This time I purchased a high-rise!   I know it seems a bit  out of character for me and you may be shocked by this purchase, but I've really been thinking about it for some time--I just wasn't finding quite what I wanted at quite the right price.   

Now, admittedly, this does appear to have been built in the architectural style of the 1960s--flat roof, everything grey, all divisions pretty much looking alike.   (In honesty, I've checked out those windows, and I don't even think they are real glass!   Feels more like plastic, but probably just as well.  Less breakage.)


But hey, my last name isn't Trump or Hilton or even Holiday Inn, you know what I mean?


So, I made my purchase (actually had to place an order and wait for things to happen--think escrow--but things went very smoothly.)   Once the property was in my hands, I immediately went to work on organizing things, updating, fixing the place up so it's livable.   


Now some people call writing on the wall "graffiti," but librarians call it classification, good sense, and providing direction.   So as you see below, here, the first thing I did was to set out "classifying" the real estate.  Every space was  then labelled.   Signage was applied.

(It really is "scary high," isn't it?!)     I'll give you a more close-up view now, and I think you'll begin to appreciate my purchase.

Horizontal Labels across top:
6 frequently used colors of wire & findings

10 Vertical Labels down left side:
Types of items such as lampwork,
& metal beadcaps, earwires, metal beads, chain,  jumprings, etc.

Already I'm having great fun!   Need brass bead caps?   That would be 3 down-4 across.   How about metal focals in antique silver?   Piece of cake!   5 down-5 across.    At least I haven't applied an alpa-numeric classification system for the items yet!  There's still time though!

Now, lest you think I managed to get all my beads in these 60 apartments, (I mean compartments), I'm using this mostly for metals, and a few of my more precious beads, lampwork, and focals I've recently purchased.   There is still a stacking cart behind my  chair full of divided containers holding glass, gemstone, wood, and other beads of many sizes and colors, and still more supplies on the book shelves next to me.   Another container keeps my rolls of wire in control (and organized by color), while yet another container holds my many, many rolls of ribbon I use on pendants.   (And if any of you still remember this blog entry about "'Making Do'" while you build your jewelry tool collection," I'm still using the utensil carrier for my pliers, wire cutters, and other small hand tools I reach for regularly.)

But my "high rise" has helped me sort, store, and be able to retrieve many items that were getting scattered because they didn't have a home.   Now they do.  What a happy ending!  

I think I would like a card catalog some day.
Not one from the 1960s-70s with the blah-color finish,
 but an older one, stained and varnished, with beautiful wood grain.
It would be nice if the drawers had glass fronts though,
like post office boxes.
I've never seen one like that.
 (And we'd need to remove the metal rod too.)
Then it would be perfect for jewelry supply storage!

So,...  how do you store all your many jewelry-related items?    (I'm sure there are "classier" ways than my hardware store-find, but I would like to thank the good people at my local Ace Hardware in  Shawnee, especially the employee who took time to help me place a special order so I could get one with "lots and lots of tiny drawers" in place of the ones they had on display.  This is just what I needed to get the job done right now!)   

It's good to be back after a brief blogging break last week!  Hope to hear from you soon!   Continued Holiday and New Year wishes!   --Sharyl

P.S.  We've had more people join our blog in the last week!  Our warmest welcome to all!  

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Graphic Credits:

Money bags: http://www.wpclipart.com/money/.cache/bag_of_money.png

Hardware divider:   photos by Sharyl

Card catalog:  http://www.wpclipart.com/education/school/.cache/card_catalog.png