Let it Snow

It has been snowing orders from my store - by my accounts it's been a banner first holiday season on Etsy. Thanks to all of my new customers and other talented Etsy sellers! It's a privilage to be part of that wonderful community of artists. I am looking forward to the time to make all of the new designs that are floating in my head already! Here is a peek at the blue sapphire piece bezel set in pmc.

Lots of snow here in the East - it was fun to wake up and admire...play...and then shovel.

Good luck with getting last minute holiday preparations completed! Remember that it's all about sharing time - in real space/time or over the phone or through letters, email....

And what IS 'perfect' anyway? It's all perfect right now.

Cheers,

Kristen

New Beauties

A couple of new pieces posted yesterday. I love these and thought I would share. Just got a new mandrel for making bracelets and bangles. And a new raising hammer that I've coveted for a while. What a difference. Its all about the tools folks, always get the best ones.

Many 'items' going on. Sensory problems 'finally' diagnosed for my son. In some way it's a relief to have a systematic 'outline' of why and exactly how he has struggled all of his 7 years; and also heartbreaking. But there is much we can do as far as helping him and for that I am so grateful. And we see results right away. As we did when we first started with his cranial sacral therapy and homeopathic remedies.

Still a huge dose of love and patience is always needed. I love that little wisp of a boy and he truly is a joy, along with his sister. The difficult days or moments always bring me back to the very basic excercise of breathing and accepting things as they are in that moment. I have discovered that is the way to move peacefully through life. I don't always succeed! But I try, and it doesn't take me too long to remember to take a short break....and try again with a more accepting attitude.

Peace to all of you this season. Look into the eyes of the little and big people that you love and show them how much they mean to you. They are why we are here on this planet doing all of the things that we do. Sharing our gifts with them, and in turn enjoying those that they bring to us.

Ciao,

Kristen

Jazzercise and Jewelry

Today was all about jewelry and jazzercise. My daughter who is "more than four and half" as she puts it is a great little worker! Orders are coming in and I needed a helper. She has become an expert at putting earrings onto earring cards & my business cards into the jewelry boxes. She is also very into fishing out all of the pieces from the steel shot after they have been tumble polished. She feels very important helping me and I honestly am grateful for the jobs that she does! I just wonder when I'll have to start paying her....

Then it was off to teach my Jazzercise class. We had two new students tonight which is always exciting. I love seeing students laugh as they try to get the new moves down. Everyone feels like they have 2 left feet when they first start, but after they have 4 or 5 Jazzercise classes under their belt they get the hang of it and bust a move! It's very rewarding being on stage and helping these incredible women get a great workout, and motivating them to stay fit and make healthy choices.

Kristen

Jewelry Class Camaraderie

I have been taking a great metalsmithing class this fall. This is the nicest group of talented artists! It is such a gift to be able to work for a few hours a week with other jewelry aritsts and share ideas, questions, and some laughs.

Raol brought his lapidary set up tonight so we watched with facination as he cut and polished some gorgeous stones. I admired a piece of Boulder Opal so much he gave it to me. Yeah! It is not without a challenge however. He said, "I cut this several weeks ago, but still don't know what to do with it!"

Now my wheels are turning. I even managed to stay awake while laying down with my daughter to get her to sleep...only because I couldn't stop thinking about that beautiful stone and what kind of setting I would create for it.

Cleaning the Studio and Try Try Again with Sales

Well, no bites from the weekend sale. But it was my first go-around with a sale promo. I will have to experiment with how much to discount, how many items etc. Or go the 'free-shipping' route. My store is still new (http://www.kmbrownstudio.etsy.com) so people are still finding me. I am learning ... just keep swimming, just keep swimming....as Dorey says in "Finding Nemo."

I do have a 'live' customer coming to my studio today to look at some work. So that means..... Yes, cleaning. Which I will go and do now. It is always good to have a reason to buckle down and clean the studio. I always work better in an organized environment anyway.

Have a great & clean & organized day!
ciao,
Kristen

Sales Sales and Friends and Sapphires

Running my first sale at my Etsy store, http://www.kmbrownstudio.etsy.com.

Cross your fingers. Friends coming into town tonight for a fly-by visit. Should be a
blast as it always is! I have to teach my jazzercise class in the bright early morning, so by the time I get back home pancakes should be on the table.... I love that!

Looking forward to sharing some new earrings - little round sapphire cab's set into precious metal clay (PMC). PMC is fine silver (99%) silver as opposed to sterling which is 92% silver (rest of percentage is made of copper alloy). PMC is formed just as one would form regular earthenware clay, and fired in a kiln. The resulting piece is pure silver. And beautiful! I am looking forward to making more stone-set pieces. If I don't say so myself, they are very beautiful. Pictures coming when I have time on a sunny day to actually take some pictures. Lets hope for that soon!

Ciao for now,
Kristen

The sales at Beltane Farm were respectable! Always great to meet and greet new people and customers. I had a few people interested in a PMC class, so we will be forming one of those. Great!

The orders are pouring in from my Etsy site! I love the way the universe works....I have been remembering to TRUST that asI put my work out there, I will build my business and it will be successfull in all the ways that I would like it to be! Well, guess which necklace was special ordered yesterday. Yes! My handmade fine silver (pmc) pendant with the word 'TRUST' on it. I love it! And, no, not just one was ordered, but 4! So I laugh and say, "Ok, ok, universe, God, light, the energy around -- whatever we call it -- I get it, I get it!" The 'law of abundance' and all of that... it does take practice to trust it because it is certainly not the mainstream of thinking; but I am telling you it does work.

Have a great day. Another gorgeous one here in New England! 65 degrees in November!

Ciao,
Kristen

From the workbench to the Goat Farm

I took a great class yesterday, adding more to my growing knowledge of setting stones. This workshop was about setting stone in PMC (precious metal clay), taught by well known PMC artist and jeweler Nancy Karpel. We accomplished so much -- learning and creating -- in such a short time. I can't wait to finish up a sweet little pair of earrings with bezel set blue sapphires! They just need to be brushed, oxidized and polished.

But not right now. Today it's off down the road (literally .5 miles away) to Beltane Farm (http://beltanefarm.com) where they make incredible goat cheese. I will be selling some of my pieces there today along side a local honey maker with delicious honey and gorgeous beeswax candles and a vegatable farmer who has amazing greens and mushrooms!

Ciao for now!
Kristen

First Posting

Good Morning bloggers! This is my first blog posting EVER. I will use this blog as a place to keep you up to date on my jewelry making endeavors including new ideas, successes, studio challenges, and breakthroughs! Also look for some anecdotes from life in our house on the edge of the forest...

I am looking forward to many posts and chats in the near and far future. Enjoy this
autumn day.
Kristen


Buttercup inspects a necklace...