the end

the show year is over and the rv is gone.  and it has been an interesting year.  i am ok.  doing what i need to in order to remain positive.  trusting the Universe to take care of me and knowing that life always and only gets better – despite appearances!  will use the ‘extra’ funds to get everything as current as possible and hope i can handle the final payoff arrangement.  otherwise, it’s bankruptcy time for me.  ugh.  oh what the heck – just one of those things i’ve never done and used to consider the ultimate shame.  just another life lesson. it’s all an illusion anyway! ^_^

so, stay tuned for what’s new.  this is creation time – new designs for applique and who knows what in beads.  definitely more pins to be made as i have two places to send them to be sold on consignment.  one in sisters and the other at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles!  yea!

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

thurs 10/8

hi again!  been gone a while from here.  didn’t want to just keep putting ‘bad’ news out, so did the ‘no news is good news’ approach. ^_^

i’m still here.  that’s the good news.  made it past the big #70 and lived to tell the tale. ^_^  and am now preparing for my first true ‘craft’ show where i’m taking only the jewelry.  it’s an outdoor, big event in sacto (so i sound like a native ^_^) at cal expo.  called  witchapalooza!  200-300 vendors.  it’s planned as a ‘family outing’.  don’t know what to expect – first time for the show.  promoters saying 15-20k visiters.  we shall see.  am doing with my (new) friend, ron, who is also a jeweler.  he does sterling and turquoise.  talked him into coming out of ’show retirement’ to do it.  it’s just sat and sun, but long hours.  goes till 8 pm.  for me, it’s all about cashflow at the moment!  and, if it turns out to be a good show – always good to be in the first year.  even if it isn’t what they are promising – if i can see that it shows promise – i’ll do again next year.  while we must use the EZup, rest of setup won’t be bad.  not taking any quilting stuff.  so, only tables required.  we won’t put the jewelry out till the morning of.  however, we are required to decorate the booth in halloween attire – as well as oursevles.  colette from ’sew many quilts’ in tracey sent me a witch’s hat to wear!  yea!  other than that, i’ll just wear basic black. oh, and let my hair down!  that’s enough in itself!  instant witch!! ^_^

so, here are the silly pins i made just for this show.

 

 

 

and if this doesn’t make you smile, nothing will! no, not the pins, the picture below! forgot to position it, so can’t type anymore after it.  so

love and beauty!    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

yea!

did a long shot and it worked out!  so, i will be in plymouth this weekend and will (i say) make enough to save the old rv! ^_^  life is good!  more than one vendor this past weekend asked me if i was going and kind of indicated there might still be room for me.  as it turns out, i was able to get a half booth – what the heck, i deal with that in houston!!!  no reason i can’t make it work here! ^_^

so, come on down! or up! or over! ^_^  there’s also a big wine festival in the area, so you can really have a good time!  and here are some really silly pins i am going to be selling.  making them for the big witch show in sac mid oct, but will take them this weekend.

  

now aren’t those just too stupid silly! ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

 

one more

here’s the latest pin i just posted on artfire.  also put the pink one on yesterday.  oops, just remembered – i meant to make matching earrings before i posted.  dang.  hate it when that happens. ^_^

 

 

 

 

and that’s about all the news for today.  just one week before i head up to walla walla for the next show.  oh how i pray it’s a good one.

 

new set

here is what i just posted on artfire – a full set!  it’s a pin that can be worn as a pendant and the necklace and  matching earrings are included.  i also include the adapter that allows you to convert the pin to a pendant – my own design.

     

 

 

one down and 3 to go – pins or sets in process, that is.  having a really good time with this. ^_^  however, next week i must get my act together in the other part of the business!  get ready for walla walla!

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com   http://jrixman.etsy.com

 

final form

here is the purple pin as it is in final form and i am about to post it on art fire.  wish me luck!! ^_^  cupboards getting bare!  (name in art fire also jrixman)

 

 

 

sometimes even i like what i do, and this is one of those times.  sure hope it appeals to someone else as well!  i won’t  be providing a necklace with this one, but as i mentioned last time – easy enough to make your own conversion with an extra long chain.  just double it and put the pin thru the two loops and close it.

love and beauty     www.artfullyapplique.com   http://jrixman.etsy.com

 

almost finished

that new purple pin, that is.  and this one will remain a brooch – unless the person buying it chooses otherwise.  it just looks like a brooch to me – plus, i don’t have the right beads to make a necklace for it.  still, i really do like it.  and i’m certain i can find enough beads to at least make matching earrings.

 

 

 

of course, all that lovely purple fabric will be gone once it’s finished!  and the outer edge may end up slightly different.  i never know what i’m going to do once i have the backing piece on – what kind of finished edge – or fringe – or???  for now, am thinking it won’t look much different.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com     http://jrixman.etsy.com

 

more

i have also begun yet another pin.  it is an addictive process. ^_^  and one that could get me into trouble in the ‘bead stash’ category!  like this one – so far i don’t see that i have the right beads to create a necklace for it.  that will require either different thinking about what the necklace needs to look like – or – the purchasing of some additional beads. hmmmm  both sound interesting! ^_^

or, like the first ‘purple’ pin, this could just be a pin.  and the owner could add her own necklace – perhaps a gold chain??   one option is for ‘you’ to use a longer chain and double it – with the looped ends together you then put the pin thru those and close it.  voila’   you have a pendant.  try it, it works. 

ok, not my own idea.  from a new jewelry making friend i met thru twitter who lives back east somewhere. ^_^  she was brainstorming with me about my own current predicament – not having the proper ‘adapter’ to convert the brooches to pendants.  something i am still working on and will go to home depot today to check out some opions, for. (terrible english, sorry) ^_^

having said that, i guess i should get off here and do something.  clothes in washer – will hang those before i shower!  sun good and bright/hot again today.  how the heck can it be only 75 deg and zero humidity ‘back home’ (in cincinnati, ohio) in late august????  that’s crazy.  should be 95 deg and 95% humidity!  global warming????

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com   http://jrixman.etsy.com

 

progress

just to prove i have actually been doing something even tho i haven’t posted on here for several days. ^_^  here are the unfinished sets.  and it is my goal to at least get backings on both of the pins – at which point i know i will be adding some kind of ‘fringe’ – or something.  and i am still pondering exactly what to do about the ‘conversion’ from brooch to pendant.  i have a few of the combo-type findings and will probably use them for these 2.  am searching for alternatives. 

   

so, these will go onto Art Fire once they are ready – and will be $75 for the set – with the earrings included ‘free’.  if you happen to love one – just let me know, send a check or m.o. and they will be sent to you as soon as completed. ^_^  just in case. ho ho ho (i know, if i were ‘hip’ it would be LOL)

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com    http://jrixman.etsy.com

 

8/24

yes, it has been a while!  wish i could say i have been having a really great time as the reason.  truth is, i just kinda forgot.  been too busy stressing about money again.  what a drag!  but – this too shall pass! (again) ^_^

thought i’d post the picture of the latest pin – which, like the gold one, still needs a backing and back and whatever fringe etc to finish it off completely.  it is my intention to make them wearable as a pin or pendant.  my biggest problem is finding enough matching beads to make the ‘necklace’ on which to hang the pendant.  can’t exactly use those tiny #15’s for that! ^_^  and a long-ish double strand will take a good measure of beads.  will i have to sacrifice and purchase some??  could be!  dangerous territory – those bead shops! :)  so, here it is.

i don’t think this one photographs so well – i like it better ‘in person’.  the problem with choosing the beads is it isn’t a true blue – a hint of turquoise.  the dots in the glass are light gold with peach centers.  so, we shall see what i can come up with.

 

 

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com     http://jrixman.etsy.com