Tales Of De Stash

Y'all KNOW I have an enormous stash of beads that I adore but have yet to find exactly the right design  to use( better known as DE Stash). O.K. so it's the Holiday season and I've really gotten in the mood to create with Green and Red and Gold, Blue and White. So there is this bead that has been with me for 6 years( no joke!) and every time I have tried to make something with it.....hasn't worked out. Until this morning.....it came to me that I wanted so much to showcase the bead since it is a faceted, deep emerald green glass almost a trapezoidal shape and they way to do that was to use the bare minimum of design and embellishment. So, I got out the solid copper wire, copper delicate chain and copper lobster claw findings and set to work. Finally! 

It's listed on my Etsy shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesigningParrotJewel?ref=ss_profile

As you can see, I have done a fairly simple, decorative wire wrap, attached it to the delicate copper chain and it's complete. Ready to be worn to any holiday gathering or to work or shopping.

 Hope you like it!

Yellow Turquoise Necklace Featured In Etsy Treasury

The Yellow Turquoise necklace created and listed last week, has been featured (first row spot too!) in this beautiful Etsy treasury.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE3MzMxOTN8MTExNDY4MTA1Nw/all-i-want-for-christmas

I'm so excited!

Green Adventurine Chain Maile Necklace Done!

The Green Adventurine Chain Maile necklace is done! After working with leather, braiding it, wrapping it, etc. I couldn't find any way to use it on the necklace that was appealing. The leather seemed to conflict with the silver chain maile and gemstones. So, no leather but instead I finished the necklace with a simple chain maile strand to match the rest of it.  And I like it! 

This could go with some many different types of clothes. It would make a nice gift for family members,friends or even bosses (female of course) and just in time for the holidays!

It's now listed in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesigningParrotJewel?ref=ss_profile

HOLIDAY CRAFTING INTERVIEW AMIE CAMPBELL

Amie Campbell does lots of crafting for the holidays, making gifts for everyone and offering them for sale in her Etsy shop CasaCampbell .  She tells us how she got started and gives some advice  for anyone wanting to try their hand at it.

Amie: "Like most people I started making things in elementary school such as little bracelets and homemade Christmas gifts.  I guess I just never stopped! I started crafting specifically for sale probably three years or so ago now.

  I first learned to knit from a co-worker, who was actually one of my bridesmaids.  She was knitting at work one day and I asked if she could teach me.  My first knitted item was a disaster. It was all misshapen and got wider in the middle then really skinny on top and had holes everywhere! It took practice, but now I can knit with my eyes closed.

  I taught myself how to make the soaps.  I saw the supplies at the craft store and decided to give it a try. I burnt my fingers a few times, but I got the hang of it quickly.

  If I'm looking for something to do, I might walk around the craft store. At times, I'll be at home decorating stores or what not and see something and think,'I bet I can make that'.  However, I would say a lot of inspiration comes from trying to make a home on a tight budget.  At least half of our decorations were made by me.

  I decided to start selling my crafts after one Christmas when I made a wreath for my cousins. I showed pictures to some friends and everyone encouraged me to start selling.   Soon after I saw that a friend had opened an Etsy shop to sell her T-shirt designs.  Well, I decided I would give it a try.

  Some advice for people who want to start crafting.  Find something you enjoy, or think you might enjoy, and just dive in.  If you have fun making it, that's all that matters.  Talk with your friends and see what they make and see if they'll teach you.  Have fun with it and laugh at the mistakes."

Amie's crafts can be seen and purchased at her Etsy shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/casacampbell?ref=ss_profile