It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Ho Ho Ho,

Yippee, I got my laptop back! Now that I've been on the desktop in the studio for weeks I'm not sure if I'll be switching back. All my stuff is gone anyway. Well it's on a hard drive; on top of the workstation in the studio. I use an office chair and slide from my workstation to my computer. Wee!

Anyway I've been busy creating but am a little disappointed that sales are not what I had hoped for when I started out in June. That's when I lost my job and decided to get back into jewelry making.

At this point I am thinking of incorporating more sewing into the business as I've always done well with sewing. The only drawback is, as I have mentioned before, is space. Sewing takes up a lot of space! Especially if you sew window coverings and home decor stuff. Yikes! We are still recovering from sewing the two gowns for my granddaughters. I'm still pulling thread out of the vacuum!

What to do? Well I have taken more classes. John and I went to soldering class and I took another one to make bangles. It was really cool. We used a drill to enlarge holes in beads. It's another level of knowledge I can use. It's different using the torch and drill press from beading with wire and beads. Well, different muscles anyway! Holding onto those beads so they don't go flying and knock someone out was challenging.


I will post photos when I get a chance to take them. Busy with the turkey day and all that.


I must also mention I was surprised no one participated in the pendant give-away. I promise not to sell any one's address, ha ha. So, guess we will have to do another one. I will post the details soon. Don't be shy, leave comments, follow me. Which brings to mind a patch I sewed onto my favorite jeans back in the day...Don't follow me; I'm lost too!

Mahalo,
Jozee

My new pendants are old school tattoo designs. No I didn't do the art! But kewl, dontcha think? I know, I drive my granddaughter nuts. She calls me the crazy grandma! hahaha I'm not crazy, girls just wanna have fun!



My Bonanza Booth:  http://www.bonanza.com/booths/J_J_Designs

J & J Design Inspiration: Being creative

J & J Design Inspiration: Being creative

Being creative

My angel earrings are made. How many different ways can you make an angel earring? Ha ha! I made one that looks like she has hair. I also made regular ones. Tell me what you think.

I was pondering doing a tutorial for my drawstring jewelry pouches. Just in case I took lots of pics. The fabric is the backdrop for the photo above. Wondering if anyone would like to make their own bags?

Anyway I not only made Maddy's Halloween costume, I also made a gown for my older granddaughter. She's in A Midsummer's Night Dream as Helena at school. After the horror show I had working with real bridal satin and chiffon for the bride dress I made Maddy, I swore I wouldn't go that route again. After all, it's only a school play, right?

Wrong! OCD kicked in and I got the color she wanted, lilac and it was what I believe is called damask. Satin with a flower sort of embroidered into the fabric.

Here's a pic I took when I started cutting:

I'll post more later. You get the idea. Just me being creative.
Holla back if you want to know how to make one of these:

Have a great week!

Happy Holidays!!!

I had a productive day as I finished six glass tiles, photographed, and posted for sale. Then cut the pattern for my soon to be 12 year old granddaughter, Seiana. She is in a play at school. I was so rushed with Maddy's Halloween costume that I didn't photograph it. My daughter is sending pics through her Blackberry but I still haven't figured our how to get them on the computer.

Joy Pendant

Holiday Snowman

Pink Owl

I also have some interesting Steampunk art that looks great and will post a few in the next day or so.
My sister hopes to give me a tutorial on PhotoShop so I can use my own photos for the pendants. That will be great and is the reason I started making these babies!

My plans for later include cutting out the gown/costume. She is Helena in A Midsummer's Night Dream. Lots of fabric!!

I've decided to do a freebie this week. Leave a comment on my blog and you may win one of my glass tile pendants!

Hope everyone has a great, productive week!

Aloha,
Jozee

Happy Halloween!

I just shipped off my granddaughter's Halloween Costume. Don't you love the holidays? I enjoyed making glass tile pendants for Halloween. Here are a few samples:

I sewed a few drawstring pouches for them. Here is a photo of one:

I sent my older granddaughter this black cat glass tile pendant necklace:

Check out my Bonanza booth for upcoming Christmas theme pendants. Purchase a glass tile pendant and mention you saw my blog for free shipping on Christmas themed pendants. Valid October 29 through December 10, 2010.

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/J_J_Designs

Happy Halloween!

J & J Design Inspiration: If it weren't for bad luck...

J & J Design Inspiration: If it weren't for bad luck...

Maybe I should use the internal workings of my laptop for some altered art...

If it weren't for bad luck...

Geez Louise! My laptop crashed. We are fortunate to have a desktop in the studio. Right now I'm using John's laptop. Of course he had it locked up like Fort Knox so most of my stuff wouldn't run. Something about multi firewall conflict. Most of my photos and all the household account info are on that thing.

John had a special account set up for me when I came home from class. He's such a good hubby. Now I can relax on the couch to type. I really didn't want to spend any more time in the studio. I was in there all day until 3:00. Then I came out for lunch and to get ready for tax class.

I will be back in the studio tomorrow for more creating, picture taking, and labeling. Ah yes, inventory labeling and supplies. I need an assistant! I've been spending so much time on other business demands it has taken time away from jewelry making. Note to self, schedule some much needed torch time.

Aloha

Bonanza Booth

Finally have my Bonanza booth up and running. Whew!

Here is the link:

J-J_Designs' booth at Bonanza

Aloha!

Busy bee, busy me!

It has been a busy few weeks for me. I started classes for Professional Tax Preparation. I have also taken a stamping class at the bead shop.

Dear hubby, John, has been away at school on the mainland. He took supplies with him to work on chain mail and has made several items. I promised I would post a picture of my first knotted bracelet so here it is along with a few of my recent creations with copper components.

Also found some turquoise color Czech glass table cut beads. They are really pretty and have a touch of purple in them. Hope to have my website up and running by October 1. Aloha!

Fancy jasper, copper bracelet.

Swarovski glass pearls, bicones, silk thread, sterling toggle.

Dangles

Wire wrapped Czech glass beads, Sterling components.

Bali sterling silver components

 

 

 

The white pearl bracelet is not for sale. Everything else pictured here has been hand made by me in my home studio.

Knot your traditional pearl jewelry...

I recently attended a pearl knotting class.  The evening prior to the knotting class I created two crocheted bracelets. One would think that pearl knotting would be a fairly easy process compared to a braided crocheted piece.

My thoughts went to the history of pearl knotting. To a time far away when women would get together and create beautiful pieces to adorn themselves, family, friends, and others. The men of the village would brave the deep water of the ocean to find the ocean gems. Weddings, gifts, and heirlooms are gracefully created with this simple technique.

I was slightly embarrassed when I realized I was in the bottom of my class. As another student stated, we were the "special ed" corner of the table. Frustration grew as my fingers fumbled when I attempted to hold the silk cord while guiding the tweezers to just the right spot above the pearl. The technique seemed to "click" after a few words of encouragement from the instructor. A few knots later, I was confident my next knot would go smoothly and I too would be on my way to creating beautiful pieces.

The cord is draped around my fingers, I turn my hand to bring the tweezers to the right spot, and NO PEARL! What's this knot doing there? In my excitement of, "By George, I think I've got it!" I forgot to bring up the next pearl before starting to make the knot. Now my hands are wrapped with cord and the tweezers are suspended like a high wire acrobat swinging to grab the hands of their partner who is missing.

The pearl knotting class is is actually my attempt to keep busy, socialize and learn new skills while hubby is off to college on the mainland for three weeks. Okay, no harm done. Let's untangle this and start over. I continue along as the other students finish their pieces. The bracelet is finally finished. Whew!

I used Swarovski pearls and crystal accents. It actually came out okay. I will post a picture of it when I perfect my jewelry photography technique.

Black and white bracelet; Swarvoski pearl and crystal, hand knotted, sterling silver findings.

More photos from our weekend

Leaving Ewa Beach.

Vendor in Honolulu

A visit to Pearlridge Mall.

Purchased a jewelry making book

Weekend shopping

We went to Honolulu to check out a jewelry supply store recommended by Paul. I needed to buy a few pliers. The place didn't keep much of anything in stock. I did manage to purchase some fine silver wire at a reasonable price.

Many small  businesses do not keep inventory on products due to the economy. I have gone into stores that carry one of an item. Island living has many shopping challenges. I will save that for another post.

I stopped in our local bead shop to purchase the nylon tip pliers. I could have ordered them online but I feel it's important to support our local businesses. There was a trunk show going on and I was able to pick up a few beautiful findings.

View of Fort Street Mall and an interesting coffee shop sign.

Aloha Friday!

Welcome to my blog! It's Aloha Friday. Hubby and I are going to our friend Paul's shop to drop off my ring. It's a handmade engagement ring that needs a few tweaks. I will post more about our wedding another time.

We are going out to buy a few tools for our workshop today. I will post a few pictures to document our day.

We are blessed to live on Oahu.

Aloha!

Paul at his workspace.