etsymetal blog carnival

hyacinth
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

and yes, i am returning to the land of the living....

Tell us about other kinds of art and craft you do.
What other media do you work and play with?
*my mother and i both realized i did have some artistic potential when i played with clay. you can't really go wrong with pinch pots.
*i learned to crochet and knit and enjoy making super simple scarves and hats.
*i also dabble in watercolors.

How often do you get to create?
*unfortunately, i do not play with clay or watercolors as often as i should.
*i crochet and knit when i watch horror movies at night. the repetitiveness is very relaxing and i even get something accomplished.

Does it relate to or inspire your metalworking?
*sometimes.
*colorways in yarn definitely inspire my enamel work.

check out everyone else's crafty endeavours here:
etsymetal blog

still here

wreath
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

still alive
mostly surviving the holidays

----------->
all of the 1st grade kids were asked to make a 'tradition' wreath.
parker's wreath is covered in stars; glitter, pipe cleaner, wood, foam, everything.
we used stars because every year our family makes a new star to top our tree.
it is one of the few traditions we have at this point in life.
the orange and red star in the center of the wreath now rests atop our christmas tree.

pocket mirrors

pocket mirrors
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have a HUGE stash of pocket mirrors ready to be sent around the world to use as stocking stuffers.
most are made with cut-outs from vintage children's books.
funny to say the least.

find some here

lots of sparkles

chicory
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

have i mentioned how much i am enjoying playing with faceted gemstones of all kinds??
i have several pair of post earrings and several necklaces being added to the shop now.

district reading fair

reading fair morning
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

my hard working boy won 2nd place in his division at the district reading fair.
only the first place winners move on.
honestly, i am happy to stay home and celebrate his success rather than spend another day on the road.

(he is with the school's librarian, mrs. lampley.)

still taking pics

violet
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

updating the shop and waiting for the holiday rush to really kick in.

just a reminder, i will be at fondren unwrapped this thursday night from 5-9pm.
i will be in the corner across from basil's.

business success secrets...

set up
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

crap i am so late posting this....
and let me add that i kind of laughed at this topic as soon as i read it.

*What does it mean to you to be "successful" in business as an artist?
at first success was simply measured by selling enough jewelry to pay for more supplies.
now, i do feel much differently even though i cannot say that i am successful.
i want to sell my jewelry consistently and this means both itty bitty earrings and my one of a kind pieces.
i want to receive a small amount of commission work.
i want to sell enough jewelry to pay for a class (taking into consideration that this means travel and childcare.)
i also want to be a member of professional organizations and respected by my metal peers.

*How do you walk the line between creativity and profitability?
i feel that walking the line between creativity and profitability is something that all artists must struggle with.
i do make simple, inexpensive earrings that make great gifts, but i have tried to make sure they 'fit' with my other pieces. i chose stones and colors that i like and would wear.
and that is about as far as i go......
i know i seem to mention this constantly, but i do not have to live off of my income.
i want jewelry making to stay my creative outlet and to remain fun.
i worry that when my boys grow up i will have to grow up too.

*What is the best thing you've done for your business?
i have no secret recipes for other artists.
i do not have my own website and i do not have a brick and mortar shop.
i do not wholesale to huge upscale boutiques or send my jewelry to celebrities.
but for me the best thing i have done is to continue to learn and grow.
i started out wire-wrapping and stamping metal and now i have so much more to offer the public.

find out other secrets here

new sparkles

shadow box - citrus
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i think i may need to admit that i have a problem...
i have fallen in love with sparkly gemstones and could the timing be better?
i now have quite an assortment of earrings for all those party-goers and fancy women.

come check out the shop

re: pop-up update

after less than a week in the pop-up, i will be moving everything out.
life is so extremely tiring at times.
i will be showing at fondren unwrapped on nov. 18th so please stop by to purchase local handmade goodies including my jewelry and knits.

miles' first haircut

haircut
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

life can be so freaking traumatic.

first haircuts are a huge deal in my world.
they mean that my baby is no longer a baby, but has moved into the realm of child, kid, big boy, etc.
i tend to put off first haircuts for a ridiculous amount of time so that i can continue in my state of denial.
for parker, his bangs were in his eyes long before i cut his hair.
for miles, he sported a mullet for a rather long time, but no more.
sunday night i proceeded to chop his mullet off.
he was not happy and neither was i.
but he no longer looks like a redneck.

pop-up update

popup
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

(the walls are lime, not lemon.)

it appears that miles is a liability and cannot be allowed to man the shop either with or without me so.....
ryan will be taking long lunches on friday and i will be going up most saturdays to man the box during lunch.
you can see that i am splitting the space with elizabeth, who does fused glass work.
i also set up my scarves and beanies, but they are hiding in the far right corner.
i still want you to come and see me, but it will need to be fri & sat from 11:30-1:30 or during fondren unwrapped on thurs 18th.

shop update

vine - berry
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

is actually happening this week.
i have plenty of sparkling beauties (many are tourmaline) going up in the shop this week.
i am really excited about adding the tube set stones as well as the larger faceted stones in long, dangling earrings.
i also have a handful of necklaces that are making their way to the shop.
i tend to focus on earrings and rings because those are the accessories that i wear, but i am pleased with the necklaces i have made the past couple of months (and i do mean months.)

also worth a mention, i am splitting a pop-up spot with a fellow ms craftswoman for the next six weeks.
the pop-up is in 'the corner' building in fondren that also houses roosters.
i am planning on opening the doors during lunch hours (11-1:30) during the week.
i will also show up on random weekends throughout the holiday season.
be sure to stop by if you are in town.

long time no see

halloween
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i still can't quite conquer time management.
i met my family up in starkville for a state football game.
parker finished up his soccer season and just in time to miss the cold (maybe it's just cool for most of you) weather.
i organized a fall/halloween party for parker's first grade class. i am still not quite sure how i managed to snag the title of room mother, but the kids are so sweet to both me and miles that i just couldn't resist.
our family participated in a church fall carnival and then went trick-or-treating on saturday night.
parker has been working on a reading fair project for a couple of weeks and turned it in this morning.
to catch up on all the going ons of our family go check out my flickr.

this means that i am finally able to catch up on yard work and maybe get ahead of the mound of laundry that just never disappears.

i guess this is the day for giveaways.
go check out these sweet bikes.

the talented emily

Blog Giveaway Piece
Originally uploaded by emily.pearleverlasting

my friend emily of pearleverlasting is having a blog giveaway.
some of you may have seen my facebook post.
if not, i will repeat myself here.
please go directly to her etsy shop and buy many, many things, but please do not enter the giveaway.
i want to snag that necklace for myself.

wow how i've grown

industrial flower
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

in the four years since i have been a member of etsymetal, i have dramatically increased my knowledge and skill level in so many areas of metalsmithing.
i have learned numerous new skills that would not have been possible without the tutorials, Q&A sessions, and encouragement of my fellow metalsmiths.
i have gained valuable information on photo techniques and advertising dos and don'ts.
i have found my voice and gained the confidence to offer it to the world.

THANK YOU ETSYMETAL!!!!!!

as a small token of my appreciation, i will be offering 20% off most of my one of a kind items this week.
just check out the sale section of my shop or browse the whole thing.

4 whole years

potter's clay
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

that's right people, the etsymetal street team has been up and running for 4 years.
to celebrate we are giving away 4 $50 gift certificates which are redeemable at any etsymetal member's shop.
to find out how to enter the giveaway, go here.
to find what you want from my shop when you win the giveaway, go here.

pricing is not so black and white

blackbird - reversible
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

jess over at rosy revolver wrote a fantastic post on what goes into pricing a piece of handmade jewelry.
rather than attempt to be as thorough and well-written as she, i will just link to her original post.
read it here

finally, finally.....shop update

dahlia
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i feel so ridiculously slow and embarrased that it has taken me this long to add anything new to the shop.
i have had little time to make and create, but i have had time.
i have probably two dozen pieces that are making it into the shop both this week and next.
among these pieces are a handful of necklaces, lots of earrings, and a couple of rings.
the colors and styles of the pieces will vary greatly since they were made over several months time.
these earrings are some of my favorites and i can barely stand to let them find a new home.

i am beginning to wonder about my parenting skills...

fat lip
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

last friday, we were taking a stroll through the neighborhood.
parker wanted to run to the stop sign and i said sure since it wasn't too far ahead.
in the process of getting there, parker lost a shoe, slipped, and tore up his face.
his eye turned light purple, puffed up, and was surrounded by a huge scrap/scab.
a mere week later, miles decided to run down the hallway at church.
he tripped, fell, and chomped his tooth through his lip.
it bleed for a while and got really swollen and he drooled the rest of the day.

i am hoping that the next 10 days are much less eventful.