Some pendants ready for my Etsy shop. Not a whole lot of creative stuff going on here, mostly tinkering away at backed up housework. It's POURING out as I type this, which is a good thing, since we need the rain here in Atlanta. Though it makes for slow drying time on sealers.

I've recently submitted my site to Paper n Stitch. It is a selective online showcase. It is all part of my goal to put my stuff out there more this year.

Do any of you have crafty goals?

What I'm working on.

I started a necklace last week using my ClinkIts. I'm not done and I'm not sure if I'm going to use the stone chips between the wire wrapped glass pieces or pick some cut glass (something with sparkle). I'm leaning towards sparkle, something like the bead I used in the lower right of the photo. It's pressed glass, an amber color.

My son got his yellow belt in Karate this weekend. I'm so proud of him. At 4.5, he is one of the youngest in the Little Dragons class. If they were giving out 'cute' awards, he definitely would have won first place!

More Online Beading Classes

I get a lot of hits from people looking for online beading classes so I'll take the time to list some (feel free to add your own links to tutorials in the comments) new and maybe previously mentioned links for finding beading tutorials, in no particular order;



JewelryLessons.com just launched July of 2008 and it's a very stylish site. The site has articles, tutorials (both free and for sale), a gallery, community boards and other great features. You can also write your own tutorials and then list them on this site for a profit. It is free to register and I really liked the free tutorials as well. There are some really good free beginner tutorials, including making bead links, basic chains, and wire wrapped briolette earrings.


Beaducation.com is another very stylish site! This site offers video lessons for both beginner and advanced projects. Right now they have at least 50 lessons with a lot of them dealing with silver and working with metal. Some of the free videos they offer are Intro to Seed Beads, Intro to Chain Mail and Felted Beads.



Artist Connie Fox's website has photos of her beautiful metal and wire work. She has some free tutorials and videos as well as a studio tour that I highly recommend! I also recommend you check out her gallery as well as her students' gallery for inspiration.

: Jewelry Making
I could not have a list about learning to make jewelry without putting a link to About.com's Jewelry Making page. Tammy Powley has a wonderful collection of links that covers a wide selection of jewelry making topics. She even has a Beginners Corner. This guide covers the instructional, creative and business sides of jewelry making and is a definite place to poke around.


I am a loyal Fire Mountain Gems customer. I have been ordering supplies from them for at least 10 years. They have a huge supply catalog. They also have free learning videos, project ideas and a large gallery of ideas.

Other places to find project ideas are: Michaels, Joann's, and Hobby Lobby. You could also search on Youtube.com for some videos. Please feel free to share your favorite online tutorials or if you have one on your own site.

Bracelet

Bracelet
Originally uploaded by Alicia G.

This photo is a bracelet I recently made. I'm starting to check out where I can start sending magazine submissions. With the ease of email submissions I thought I might as well give it a shot. Not sure what I'll submit yet. I did enter a project for Venus Zine's Craft Off competition which ended September 18th. I figure it's a good way to keep my mind going.

I still am planning on having an earring making class for my friends and some of my kids' teachers. It's all hinging on me finally cleaning out the formal living and dining room which has had random 'stuff' sitting in it since we moved in. It has dwindled a little bit and I think I'm going to try hard to pick away at it this week. I am growing a pile that will be donated, so that's always a good thing. I wish there was a magic organizing fairy that would just wave her magic wand over my house and make it all wonderful.

I love felt flowers.

I'm so crazy about making felt flowers. I have bought pre-made felt flowers, but nothing is as fun as using my Sizzix to cut my own. My 3 year old daughter loves helping me. She likes to peel the cut flowers off the mat after we take it out of the Sizzix. I have a big stack of felt that needs to be cut. Most of these flowers will wind up as hair accessories or pins for my etsy shop, some plain cut flowers will also go over there.

All of the felt I have now is the acrylic type, although I've seen some wool and wool blend types on etsy that I think I may treat myself to in the future.

I have been making some jewerly and I will take photos as soon as I can get a nice day to be out on the deck. I want one of those photo light tents so I can take nicer photos of my stuff. Although I did see a 'nearly' free diy light box with instructions here.

Wow, I HAVE been gone!

I kept saying to myself that I needed to make a post and lo and behold, 3 months have gone by! Where the heck have I been? Has three months really slipped by? I wish I could say I was off doing something exciting, but I can't. I've been unpacking, having company, off visiting family and normal everyday non crafty things. I did teach arts and crafts on Mondays to preschoolers. That was fun. Though I do not recommend a painting project for more than 12 kids. The last day we were surprised by having 24 kids (I had between 12 and 14 all summer) and I had a painting project planned, needless to say I'm glad that day is over. My son started full day pre-k and my daughter is going three full days a week (same hours as my son that day so I don't have to drive back and forth twice those days). I'm also working part time at the school on the newsletter and other administrative things. Once things settle down and I get a few days to myself I'm going to start to unpack my studio. That probably won't be for another week or two, but I'll certainly take photos as I'm working.

An alternative to PayPal?

For those of you who sell online and my be looking for an alternative to Paypal, Revolution Money Exchange is offering a $25.00 bonus for anybody who signs up by the end of today (May 15). It's free to sign up and once you log in and accept your bonus (within 30 days) you can transfer it for free to your bank account. I may use it for some of my custom orders and I'm going to try it out on my website to see if it might be a way to cut back on the fees I'm paying with PayPal. You can also earn a $10.00 bonus for each person you refer who signs up today as well, but it's not mandatory.

Click Below to find out more information.

Summer Sale!

ClinkIts Sale!

ClinkIts Glass Packs are now only $5.00 each (Normally $7.50). Each pack comes with 10 pieces in either cool tones, warm tones or mixed tones. I can also do custom color packs and I offer wholesale pricing.

Please visit www.aliciag.com to find out more about ClinkIts and to order.

Geeky Fun - Txt Spk Necklaces

Show off your geek pride with these Txt Spk Necklaces.

Stamped and embossed on glass ClinkIts, sealed and strung on brown cord. I have more on the way and I can do custom orders.

See them all at my Etsy Shop.

Embossed ClinkIts Initial Necklace

Embossed ClinkIts Initial Necklace
Originally uploaded by Craftcart

This is a stamped and embossed ClinkIts pendant. I used a satin sealer and cotton cord to complete the piece. Although this is for myself, I will be offering them at my Etsy store next week. What a bright and sunny day this was to take photos. Too bad the weather can't stay like this for more than one day here. It will probably be rainy and cold tomorrow.

ClinkIts Initial Pendants

ClinkIts Pendants
Originally uploaded by Craftcart

Just a quick pic to show you what I was working on today. These are going to be pendants (with initials as you can see). They don't have sealer yet, but I'm liking the matte finish as is, so we'll see what I wind up doing. I made them with my ClinkIts. I will be offering these at my Etsy shop in a few weeks. If you are intersted in having one made for you, please contact me at aliciag (at) aliciag (dot) com.

An AMAZING piece of Polymer Clay Jewelry

N-8737
Originally uploaded by kotomigd

This is one of the most amazing polymer clay pieces of jewelry I have ever seen. It's so lush and gorgeous. It's made by Kotomi Jewelry of London. I feel so inspired by this piece and if this piece doesn't inspire you, one of the many other gorgeous pieces at her Flickr page will.

On a side note, I am a fan of 'The Tudors.' The new episodes have just begun for this season and I love the jewelry in this show. I used to make sets of jewelry for brides and bride's maids, and one design I made after seeing 'Shakespeare in Love', was always popular. Though I still love the design, after doing four sets of 10 in one month, I did get burned out. It's been several years since that, so perhaps it's time to resurrect the design. We'll see...

Hope you're having a good day!

If you are looking for some polymer clay, below is a search from eBay.

Am I a year wiser?

I'm a year older as of Saturday. I turned 35 and all I could think was, "Am I really 35??!?" I don't feel my age. Although I know my youthful days at college are long gone and I've finally fully accepted the fact that I am a mother of two, somehow I still feel like it isn't all real. I can look at older photos of myself and see a lack of wrinkles that I now have but I certainly feel like the same person. I am truthfully 'young at heart' and I still enjoy kidding around. I look at my brother-in-law who is 25 and I don't see him as a 25 year old man. I see him as the 13 year old boy with large round glasses who talked way too loud next to me at my now in-laws kitchen table when I was visiting their house for the first time. (Boy was that a lot of nervousness for nothing!)

I think what's important for me is that in the last year I've really started to embrace the idea of doing good and being good. Helping those in need even if it's a stranger who is struggling with a newborn carrier and a shopping cart. Saying good things to those who need a little bit of comfort or an ear to talk to, even thinking good thoughts about myself instead of constantly giving way too much attention to negative ones. So I guess my new self motto is, "Do Good, Be Good, Think Good." That can't be too bad, can it?

I appreciate you taking the time to hear my ramble of the day! I hope you're having a good one!

New items at my Etsy shop!

Just a quick note to share with you three new bracelets I made. They are all available over at my Etsy shop.

Lovin' the Green ClinkIts Bracelet

Aqua Mist ClinkIts Bracelet

Black Tie Affair ClinkIts Bracelet

Craft Magazine's Atlanta Launch Party 3/09/08

Indie Craft Experience and the Atlanta Craft Mafia are hosting a party to celebrate Craft Magazine’s new issue today, Sunday March 9th from 1-5pm. There will be a make and take, door prizes, refreshments and the opportunity to subscribe to CRAFT Magazine at a special rate.

The fun will take place at:
ParkGrounds Coffee Shop
142 Flat Shoals Ave SE
Atlanta GA 30316

Join in the fun!

p.s. I hope you all remembered to turn your clocks ahead!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you are enjoying a chocolate filled sugar high this wonderful Valentine's Day! I'm in the middle of a move so the candy is giving me a bit of extra energy. Photos of my new studio will be coming next week. It is a partially finished space, but all mine! In the meantime take a peek my contribution to February Sampler.


If you want to see how I made these necklaces, you can visit my tutorial on stamping on ClinkIts. Have a great day and don't eat too many conversation hearts!

Valentines Ideas

If you need a few ideas for Valentines day, check out my post on the Etsy Atlanta blog.

I've been tagged, twice!

I was recently tagged by my friend Heather to post 7 wierd things about myself. Before I got a chance to do that I was tagged by my friend Melanie to post 10 things. Since 10 is greater I figure I can kill two tags with one post.

1. Sometimes I stay up late at night after everybody's asleep not really to watch TV, but to just be by myself, not getting anybody anything or talking to anyone.

2. If there are magazines in the bathroom with people on the cover, I absolutely have to flip them over before using the bathroom. I can't stand photos staring at me when I'm in there.

3. I have to clean my feet with cold water before going to bed.

4. I drive past my house at least two times to make sure I closed the garage door. (It's only ever been left open once.)

5. I like to eat a bowl of lima beans with spaghetti sauce on them.

6. I have OCD and it has nothing to do with having a sparkling clean organized house.

7. I love songs from The Backyardigans, Music for Aardvarks, and The Laurie Berkner Band. I like them better than my kids do.

8. I listen to talk radio and watch The Weather Channel way too much.

9. I like to eat Nesquik powder by the spoonful.

10. I'm totally hooked on the show "Cash and Treasures" and I can't wait to go gem hunting when I get a chance!

I'm going to tag a few people:

Suzanne
Monique
Alycia
Cheryl

I'm in the Februrary Sampler!

Just a quick note to let you know that I have stamped glass pendants and necklaces in February's Sampler. I had so much fun with these. I rubber stamped and embossed them. Next I sealed them and added a tiny sparkly to each. I save a few to put in my store later this week. If you already know you want one then you can just email me at aliciag (at) aliciag (dot) com. If you haven't gotten a Sampler yet, you're missing out, really!

I'm on Whip Up!

Woo! I submitted a kids project idea to Whip Up and it was published today! It is an (almost) no-sew tutu. I also have kits available. Click here to read the project. Whip Up also has hoards of other projects to see!

My interview at Indie Crafts at Craft Gossip.

Recently I was interviewed by Jamie over at Indie Crafts on Craft Gossip and the interview is up today! I donated some prizes for her February Indie Craft Giveaway. It was a bit strange to see my own words up on that site. I sounded really with it! You can read the interview here and make sure to visit Indie Crafts and watch for the giveaway. Jamie does a great job and providing info on new Indie trends, shows, and tons of info.

Do you Bzz? (How clean are your teeth?)

I am a Bzz Agent. That means that I try products and services and then share my opinions (via word of mouth) about them to family, friends, neighbors and people I meet when I'm out on my errands. I've participated in quite a few campaigns and a recent one has been my favorite. It was for the Sonicare UV Sanitizer.


Have you ever wondered how much bacteria is on your tooth brush? Do you toss your toothbrush after having a cold? I know I do. I used to rinse my brush in Listerine too and although I'm sure it's better than water, I still wonder how clean my toothbrush is. Well that worry is gone now, thanks to my new UV Sonicare Sanitizer. It kills 99% of bacteria and viruses in a 10 minute Ultra Violet cycle. I pop my sonicare brush head in, close the door and push a button. You can read all about the unit here.



Overall I am very happy with the unit. It was easy to set up and use. I hope you check it out. Also, if you would like an invite to become a Bzz Agent, email me at: aliciag (at) aliciag (dot) com and I'll send you a formal invitation.

Oh, we had more snow today! About two inches, then it rained. =( I did take my kids out to play in the snow before it started to rain. They had fun and built a mini snowman. It really brought back some memories of playing in the snow when I was little.

Snow and Packing

It finally snowed yesterday. We only got an inch that didn't stick much to the concrete, but there was enough in the grass to make a few tiny snowballs. Our neighbor's kids made a snowman. There hasn't been much creativity lately since I'm mostly packing and keeping up with my normal household stuff. I did send in a batch of ClinkIts pendants and necklaces for the February Sampler. So keep an eye on the gallery over there for a photo of what I submitted. There will also be a few of those necklaces on my website for sale early next week.

Another thought on packing all of my craft stuff. Can I just tell you that I'm slightly embarrassed at the amount of stuff I've collected? I know in the new house my studio will have room to really organize it all. There are so many things that I want to make that I just haven't because I can't easily find the supplies I've bought. I'm anxious for a fresh start on having a more organized home. The first step I've taken to doing that is to make sure what I don't need doesn't make the move. I've been taking lots of stuff to Goodwill, listing stuff on eBay, listing stuff on Craigs List, and giving stuff away. I have a month left to get it all done and I'm making good progress.

Where the heck have I gone?

OK, Thanksgiving? Seriously, how pathetic is that? I couldn't have posted once between Thanksgiving and New Years? I don't have any good excuse either. I was just selfishly absorbed elsewhere and now we're getting ready to move next month. I hope you had a nice holiday and happy new year to you!

I was trying to make some goals for myself for 2008. I'm sure some of these will sound run of the mill, but nevertheless, here they are:

1. Create More. - In our new house I will have my own studio! I'm so excited, it's big, has a large workbench and it's all MINE! Oh and it has windows! I'm thrilled to finally have my own room!

2. Promote Myself / Sell More. - I will finally follow through on selling jewelry to people I know who have been asking to see more of what I do. I also want to list more on Etsy.

3. Lose at least 30 lbs. - I would like to get a bit more healthier this year!

4. Be more organized. - How I desperately need this!

5. Practice more random acts of kindness.

6. Stay in touch better with family and friends. - I'm horrible at sending cards and returning calls, this year will be DIFFERENT!

7. Last but not least... Blog More! - I need to be more confident in writing.