Garnets and Carnations

With all the holiday flurry, it is easy to forget that January birthdays are right around the corner...

I'm listing a few special jewelry pieces with garnets over the coming week. Here is an example of gorgeous, icy, rock quartz with a cluster of garnets gathered beneath. Check them out in more detail here.

I haven't figured out how to make carnation jewelry yet!

Bali vs. Turkish Sterling Silver

I'm often asked, "What's Turkish sterling silver?" Most of my jewelry uses Turkish sterling silver, and while most people are familiar with Bali (or Balinese) sterling silver, many have never heard of Turkish. Continue on if you are curious too...

First of all, Turkish sterling silver beads are handmade in Turkey, as the name implies. Bali sterling silver beads are handmade in Indonesia. Different artisans = a different type of bead. Turkish sterling silver beads are simply of a higher quality, in my opinion. The workmanship is excellent, with fine details and consistency from bead to bead. Turkish sterling silver also tends to be a bit lighter in weight, which is a nice design quality for jewelry. For example, a necklace made of all Bali sterling silver beads would feel like a lead weight, while a necklace made of all Turkish sterling silver would just have a nice heft to it. Turkish sterling silver also tends to be a little shinier, and does not need to be polished as often to maintain that shine. The down side is that it is pricier than Bali sterling silver.

Using Turkish sterling silver beads will take your jewelry designs to another level of quality and handmade craftmanship. Here are two great photos of Turkish sterling silver designs...and have a look at my Etsy shop for more examples. Just search on the word "Turkish" within my shop.

Jewelry Home Party a Success!

Last weekend was the long awaited jewelry home party... It was a lot of work, but so much fun! I had been preparing all week - polishing, pricing, and packing up to go on the road (for the first time) with my wares.

I have to say it took more preparation and organization than the parties I have had at my own house. If I forgot something, I was just going to have to do without it!

Thanks so much to all the friends and neighbors who came to enjoy the afternoon. My mom was a wonderful hostess. And I would not have survived without my friend, Sandra, who is so fast and accurate at adding up numbers! I hope everyone is enjoying their purchases, or looking forward to giving it as a gift over the holidays. I also really appreciate all the custom orders for soap and jewelry.

Here are a few pics from the event: 1) the very reliable table guard, Gray C., 2) me, working till the very end, and 3) it's showtime!

The entire event went very smoothly. If I had to share one lesson learned, it would be this: invest in some tubs with lids for traveling and organizing. I used an assortment of shopping bags, and they were a little difficult to handle and/or limited my ability to locate items and unpack quickly.

Hope your holiday craft party has been a success. Leave a comment and let me know.

Have a joyful holiday season. Merry Christmas, everyone!

It was an Honor

A few weeks ago, Sara's Texture Crafts featured my soap and papermaking in her "Crafts of Texture" blog. I had actually done the interview a month or so earlier, so re-reading it was like it was new all over again, even for me. I was thrilled, and it turned out so nicely! Please visit my featured interview and leave a comment.

This is a great way for extra exposure about your craft. When all of us bloggers support each other, we can be a powerful force. Blog away...