The Adorned Article Jewelry: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Spring!

I may be rushing it a little bit-but I'm tired of waiting for Spring to arrive here in uber rainy Seattle. I get so sick of how grey everything is-I mean really I just need a little color. So keeping that in mind-I hope it's understandable why I went a little crazy over the weekend making way too many brightly colored gemstone pendants...Yes I did make them every color of the rainbow (except yellow-I'm apparently out of yellow) so I guess this is what happens when you have cabin fever and access to a large quantity of gemstones?? I think this is one of those moments when I can't decide if it was a cool idea or a really bad idea...

Amthyst & Gold Filled Custom Initial Pendant

Garnet & Sterling Silver Custom Initial Pendant

Shaded Carnelian & Sterling Silver Custom Initial Pendant

Peridot & Gold Fill Custom Initial Pendant

Iolite Blue Quartz & Gold Fill Custom Initial Pendant

Shaded Amethyst & Sterling Silver Custom Initial Pendant

Labradorite & Oxidized Sterling Silver Custom Initial Pendant

Smoky Quartz & Sterling Silver Custom Initial Pendant

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Fancy Wire Wrapped Pendant Tutorial

This may be more of a moderately fancy wire wrapped pendant than an outright fancy pendant but I suppose that's a matter of opinion. This necklace is made with sterling silver wire, a tiny smoky quartz rondelle & a light beer quartz briolette-I suspended this one from a pretty little sterling silver cable chain but you can use silk cord, ribbon or whatever you like. This tutorial is in PDF format so please feel free to download it, share it or repost it... all I ask is that you be nice about it and link back to my blog, that you not make any changes to it and that you refrain from using it for commercial purposes. If any of this is confusing or unclear just drop me a comment and I'll explain in greater detail. The finished necklace and others like it are available on my website http://www.shop.theadornedarticle.net/
Oh just one little reminder before you start making your pendant-be sure you make your loop big enough for your chain/cord/ribbon to fit through or remember to attach it before you close the loop. Otherwise it won't fit and then you'll be sad and we don't want that. xoxo~S

Wire Wrapped Pendant Tutorial

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Linky Followers Blog Hop/Google Friend Connect Alternatives For Bloggers

As you all probably know by now, Google Friend Connect is going to be disappearing for anyone not on Blogspot as of February 29th. Horrifying and completely heinous I agree. After recovering from my initial panic-I stumbled upon this awesome little blog hop hosted by It's so Very Cheri and learned about Linky Followers-so even if Google Friend Connect disappears entirely. I feel much calmer now.

Here are the Rules!

1. You must have the LINKY FOLLOWERS tool on your site to participate.If you see that your link has been deleted you need to add the LINKY FOLLOWER tool to your site and then come back over and re-enter your link. You can have both the LINKY FOLLOWERS & GFC on your site but you must have the LINKY FOLLOWERS tool to participate in this party hop.

2. You must follow the person who has the party on their site as a thank you.

3. Just add your blog button to the LINKY PARTY below.

4. Then grab the BLOG HOP code.You will find the code right under the Linky Party where it says CLICK HERE TO ENTER–just under that it says: WHAT IS A BLOG HOP? GET THE CODE HERE

5. Click on GET THE CODE HERE and enter it into a post on your site.You can grab the party button code in the FOOTER at Its So Very Cheri

6. Follow other bloggers–(as many as you want)–leave each one of the blogs that you follow a comment letting them know you are following them and ask them to follow you back.

If you want to add the BLOG HOP to your own site you will get lots of new followers–(see rule #2)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Artist Spotlight-The Orange Windmill Handbound Leather Journals & Notebooks

Meet Shirley Lynne the artist and shop owner behind The Orange Windmill. This talented creator of gorgeous leather journals, housewife and stay-at-home-mom, has graciously lent us some of her precious free time to tell us a little more about herself and her Etsy Shop-The Orange Windmill. Click on the link above to visit her gorgeous shop, drop by her Facebook Page & grab a coupon code or follow her on Twitter.

Lime Green Embossed Leather Journal Gift Set

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Shirley, and I live in Hamilton, Ontario. I am a housewife and stay-at-home-mom to two extraordinary children. I started The Orange Windmill in August 2011 selling handmade leather journals. Before I became a mom, I worked in the administration field. My ideal job would be to work in an old library, full of classics and manuscripts, with the smell of the pages lingering all around... mmm...

How did you first get started making journals?
I wanted to buy a journal, since the journal I had been using was almost full. I started looking around, and then my husband said to me, "Why don't you make a journal, instead of buying it?" And that started it all! Although, I did take my time in researching the different styles of binding, covers, paper, etc. before I made my first journal. And after I made that journal, I knew I was going to open up shop, selling them - I LOVED it.

Shiny Black Embossed Leather Journal

Can you walk us through your creative process?
My creative process is pretty much the same for each journal, it doesn't matter what size it is. I play with what colour of leather I want to use, and which colour thread and closure I want to use, and how many pages. Then I cut the leather down to the size I need. The pages are then torn down to size. I measure and poke the holes in the leather and pages. Then the binding begins (my favourite part!). Then I make and "install" the closure. And, Voila! It really is sort of cut and dry.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My inspiration really comes from the leather. Almost every day, you can find me looking at different colours and styles of leather, finding the pieces I want to work with. When I get the leather, I look at the piece I need to cut to form the cover, and it all blooms from there.

Small Mocha Leather Journal

What’s your favorite part about running your own business? What do you find most difficult?
My favourite part about running my own business is the enjoyment that my customers get out of the journals I make for them. There's nothing like that feeling of accomplishment, knowing that people will pay me their hard earned money for one of my journals!
The most difficult is finding time! My kids are 3 years old and 10 months old, and I don't have a lot of time for creating or networking or marketing, etc. So when I have that time, I have to be really careful not to let the time get away from me, and manage my time very well.

Blue Hardcover Coptic Stitch Journal

Do you have any advice or tips for artists wanting to start their own business?
I would tell anyone starting their own business (specifically a shop on Etsy) to get everything prepared first. Build up some inventory. Figure out your branding, your business cards, your shop banner and avatar, your policies, everything. Once that is all done, then open your shop.
Also, do what you LOVE to do. Don't create something just because it sells (even though that's tempting!). I could sell the items I paint. However, if they sell, I would have to make them over and over and over and over again, I would end up hating it! So do something you really enjoy doing, so that when you are doing it so often, it's not a chore.

Large Orange Handbound Leather Journal

Is there anything else that you would like people to know about you?
Here are a few things that I love: campfires (without the mosquitoes), burnt marshmallows, a good book, napping, classical music, and interior design.Thanks so much, Samantha, for giving me the chance to get to know you and your readers!

Turquoise Embossed Leather Journal Gift Set

Monday, February 20, 2012

Gemstone Shopping

Admittedly-it has been a little too long since I last ordered new gemstones for my jewelry. This is a problem-not only in a business sense-but also in the sense that I have a very serious gemstone habit that is beginning to rear it's gorgeous shiny head. At any rate this means that I will be obliged to make a rather large gemstone purchase very soon. It'll be nice to take a break from some of the darker winter colors and start using some pretty springtime pastels in my jewelry. Here are some of my favorites for Spring 2012♥

Faceted Puffed Prehnite Briolettes