Yesterday was SO productive! I worked 8 full hours in the studio, with hardly any lollygagging or shenanigans. It was all about preparation for the four shows I have in the next 5 weeks, to make setup as painless (literally) as possible. I:
Covered one of the presentation boards I got on the cheap with fabric that I guessed at the length for and was an inch shy of being not enough. This process caused me to stretch in ways I haven’t stretched in a while. Today I am paying for it with aches and pains. But it’s totally worth it! Then I loaded the presentation board so I can just slip it into its case and have the world’s easiest set-up.
Completed a wholesale order for… wait for it… Little Mysteries in Halifax!!! Squee! They took one each of my new Focus line, as well as a dozen simpler gemstone pendants with meaning cards attached. I’m so delighted with this I can’t even think straight. The photo below – of simple gemstones with simple meanings – is the culmination of my career. Literally, this is all I’ve ever wanted to do but could never figure out properly.
Printed cards for my rare beach glass pendants that fit into the new boxes I have on hand and loaded them up. They look so fancy!
Created new STEAMPUNK cards and loaded my clay steampunk into boxes.
Loaded some beach glass onto cards.
Loaded my ring tray.
Counted and sorted my inventory.
Did a dance of joy.
My Arts North end-of-season inventory is back, and I’m pleased to discover that I now have twice as many rings as I thought I had, and nearly twice as many earrings. Phew! This is good, because I woke up this morning realizing this is my last full weekend of production, and before I’d gotten out of bed I had organized my whole day. Except now it’s 11am and all I’ve done so far is poach some eggs! It’s OK though because I got some much-needed sleep.
Today I need to figure out the final say on my ornament design… I ran out of beads from the very successful ornament from last year, so I had to order new ones but they’re too small for the old design. I posted a new design on my Facebook page, but private and public opinion was that it wasn’t right. So it’s back to the drawing board! I might make a smaller version of last year’s design; I haven’t decided yet.
I DID decide that I will be making a small batch of Christmas earrings, and they will be my Show Special at only $15! I’m pretty excited about that… I was playing with the new beads to come up with the new ornament and have a bunch of too-small-for-the-tree pieces that will be perfect for earrings.
It was fun this week to be someone’s mentor… a friend I showed some jewellery techniques to about a decade ago is finally worked up to her first show, and she had questions for me… and I had the answers! I felt like a rockstar for a second there.
After ornaments, my priority this weekend is to make coal pendants and beach glass pendants.
OK. I have got to get to the studio. Have a great one folks!
Been making crazy amounts of jewellery these days…
Check out how awesome that labradorite is!
Finished up a bunch of rings lately, some even with gears and such!
Managed to get a few gemstones going as well, although I’m not quite able to identify this one.
This rainbow one is totally fun.
And a huge flowery one! So cool.
For the first time ever I’m running a calendar and a production schedule. Today I’m supposed to be making ornaments :)
Some folks have been asking where to buy my jewellery this year. Here’s the list!
Centre 200 Christmas Craft Fair
Friday, November 11: 2pm – 9pm
Saturday, November 12: 10am – 8pm
Sunday, November 13: Noon – 5pm
Holiday Spirit at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
Tentative schedule:
Private Shopping Party, Thursday, December 1: 5pm – 9pm
Friday, December 2: 5pm – 8pm
Saturday, December 3: 10am – 6pm
Sunday, December 4: Noon – 5pm
If you happen to know my avon lady or my future mother-in-law, they’ll be holding private jewellery parties at their homes next month as well.
And of course, my work is available year-round at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design:
CBCCD is open year-round, Mon-Sat.
PO Box 1686,
322 Charlotte Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6T7
Tel: 902.539.7491
Fax: 902.539.4807
www.capebretoncraft.com
My Etsy shop is currently empty; once I see what my returning inventory is like after Arts North closes this weekend, I might be able to put up a few items. I’ll keep you in the loop!
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