Cyber Monday Deal FREE Shipping

Hello friends, family and fellow bloggers!

Today marks the start of the Cyber Monday campaign.  Unlike Black Friday which is in-store, you can purchase deep discounts online from many retailers, resellers, small shops and from people like me.

From now until the end of the year I'm introducing my longest-lasting discount: FREE shipping on any item in my Etsy shop!  Please visit the "My Shoppette" page on my blog to follow any link to my Etsy shop; or, if you're having difficulty, click here:

Happy shopping!

Photography Services

I had to go back and count how many cameras I've used over the years.  I've had the 18-exposure snapshot cameras.  I've had my Nikon N75 (still in use).  I've had my Kodak point-and-shoot (which, by the way, still had a viewfinder!).  I've used my mom's Canon Rebel XTi.  I've had my Casio point-and-shoot.  And finally, after all these years, I've decided that I'm going to offer up my photography services to those who want them.

Here are a few things that I am able to do.  You might be an awesome photographer and just don't have the digital post-processing capabilities, or you might be an Etsy shop owner with a point-and-shoot camera who needs to make your items pop, but either way, I'm here to help!

Please contact me for a quote if you're interested!

Improved Design

Some of you might have noticed that my blog has been updated with a more creative turn lately both in design and in content.  Please feel free to visit the new tabs at the top of the page; the widget with my items for sale in Etsy; or leave a comment, feedback, or even a hello!  Thanks everyone!

Spruce up the Shop!

So I finally got around to re-listing items in my Etsy shop, which you can visit by clicking on the banner below.

Yay!  I tend to forget that it's even there, much like this blog.  My lovely aunt claimed the wire-wrapped moss agate earrings I made, but everything else has made it into the shop.  I'll continue to update as I make more jewelry :)  Here are some of my favorites:

Feel free to stop by and support my Etsy shop :)

Recycling Roses

No, I'm not going crazy and attempting to use rosebuds in my jewelry. Though, that gives me an idea about pressing small flowers and encapsulating them in resin...

Ahem. Pardon my random trains of thought. :)

BUT--continuing on the upcycling trend, I've made a new set of earrings that follow an elegant vibe.

Version 1--Long Elegance

This pair of earrings was the starter piece of the collection. It started out as a project for a "bunch"-type earring, but when the beads just didn't lay right, I tore everything apart again and reconstructed them from the beginning. And voilá--a new kind of elegance! Long, delicate and prim & proper, these can be worn to church, prom or any dress-up function. The texture of the rose paper makes these pop and will be certain to gain compliments. They almost bring back memories of Grandma's old trunk full of jewelry.

Version 2 - Cheeky Elegance

This pair of the collection was a spin-off of the original "Long Elegance" earrings. Adding a whimsical silver and several pearls to the mix, the beads were shortened to allow the pearls to bounce the eye down the earrings and end at a full-bodied rose texture that still spells "formal".

Version 3 - Playful Elegance

An ode to the original starter idea for this collection, this pair of earrings stars two altered grape-bunch clusters of rose paper beads and pearls, and a large freshwater pearl balances in the middle of each to give it that final touch. The chunky silver beads on the ear wires gives it that playful note, while the rose texture and pearls keep the feminine side alive.

All of these compose the Rose Blush Collection. You can visit my Etsy site (see the link on the side toolbar) to view more pictures and purchase any of this set.

Guinea Feather Quill

Hello everyone!

DeviantArt isn't exactly the most comment-friendly society, and non-users can't post comments. This is an environment where I can encourage the feedback of the entire community and not just my fellow artists on DA.

I'd like to start off my blogging with a quill that I constructed.

It's made out of one white turkey feather, a pad of guinea feathers, and a silvertone wire wrap.

I deliberately made the nib small to encourage thin, elegant writing; it is approximately 1mm wide and has a drawing slit for the ink.

Below are some handwriting examples for the quill.

This is available to purchase on my Etsy site: [link]

CARE:

• Do not press hard on nib when calligraphing. After use, rinse well with warm water, then tap and pat dry. Do not allow nib to soak in water for prolonged periods of time; doing so will warp the nib.
  
• Sharpening: After several uses (or many uses, if properly taken care of), your quill pen may need to be sharpened. This can be the ONLY time you soak your nib. Fill a cup with 0.5-1cm of water, and let nib soak for 1-3 minutes. Remove and pat dry. Trace edges of nib with a blade (X-actos work well if you do not have a nib-sharpening blade) towards the nib tip. When tip is sharpened to desired width, make a perpendicular cut along the tip of the nib to straighten. Allow to harden before next use.
  

Thanks for looking!

~Kayla