Chatty Metalsmiths January Thread

[#1]

Here's the list. Sadly, I took Barney off (made me cry). He's the only one I definitely know won't be coming.

Abellablue – Jessica
Aheron designs- Anna
AlexSharDesigns – Gaynor
Annasjewelry – Anna
Artdi - Diana
Atlcopperworks - Karina
AutumnLeavesJewelry - Care
Bagsnstuff - Dianna
BarronDesign – Deborah
BeadsintheBelfry- Nina
BeatrizFortes - Beatriz
Bellabijoujewellery – Jaime
Bellabijoutoo – Jaime
BDDesigns - Christen
Bijoutery - Jennifer
Blackmarkettrades- Angus
Bowersstudio. - Michele
Brightstar109 – Claire
Brandianndesigns – Brandi
Cabbingrough - LauraH
CGWhitfield. - CG
Corybethy. - Cory
chrissilynn2. – Chrissi
DiemDesignsJewelry - Sarah Jo
DonnaOdesigns. – Donna
Doxollodesigns - Janice
Duffydesigns. – Duffy
Elementaldesigns - Denise
Erga. - Erga
Evelynjewelry – Evelyn
Evittscreekarts - Lois
fix8ion – Tamara
ForrestConcepts - Sarah Jo
Foxcabochons.- Rod
Gemheaven. – Jo
Getyourbone - Steve
Ggestalt. – Karin
GiftedDesigns – Sha (Shannon)
Goldenwatercreations - Jeanne
Greenlivingsoap – Esme
Harnessedearth _ Tom
HartleyStudio - Ann
HightowerBotanicals – Julee
HRBeaDesign. – Heather
Ikaros – Carl
Indigoflameworks - Kelly
jamauerer- Julie
JaneaPauline- Janea
JaneDeaux. – Gabby
Janedeauxdeluxe - Gabby
JazJewels - Judy
JelliesJewelry - Jack
Jewelstreet. – Aimee
johnsendelbach - John
KHMetalwork. – Karen
Kimberlybelldesigns - Kim
KimVGlass.- Kim
kitandcaboodleshop - Gayle
kitkingdesigns. - Kit
KriksSilver. – Kristie
lahainalynnjones - Lynn
LauraRoberson- Laura
LeaderofMen - Alex
Litapsilverj - Lita
Lsueszabo - Sue
Luxedesignworkshop – Peg
Marcus Berkner Jewelry - Marcus
Maythenwolfbane - Nicole
MetalLuxe. – Peg
Metalsmitten – Jess
MieleMelograno – Liz
mmemagpie- Andrea
ModernMeetsWhimsy – Courtney
Monnda - Monnda
MordentDesign.- Mike
NovaofSweden – Tess
Nrjewelerydesign – Nikki
Phantasteria. – Karin
Plunderjewelry – Lindsay
Ppennee - pennee
purplepeony. - Brenda
Redturtle – “Dragon Kitty” or Mrs. Barney
Rockaholic – Peggy
SandyToesJewelry – Lisa
SarahinFlorida – Sarah
ScarletRobin - Jen
Scrapmetal - Addie
Scrollworkdesigns. - Clarity
SilverBlueberry. - Esmeralda
SilverShedStudio – Casey
SilverMadeStudio – Teresa
Sonyarasi. - Sonya
StoneTemple - Mark
StoneyCharms. – Chris
Stonz. - Susan
TammysTreasureChest – Tammy
TheFrogsPond - Brandy
TheSilverLakeStudio – Sherry
theuglydogranch - Karen
ThirteenGems – Melissa
Tinkertown– Sue
Topshelflapidary- Henrik
TreeFrogJewelry – Sheryl
TrystingTreeFarm -Laura
TSmithDesigns – Teresa
TwistedSisterArts - Jill
TwoSilverMoons.– Birgit
yenjewelry - Nicole
2BellesBeads – Crystal
2Trickpony - Rachel

[SilverBlueberry]

Laura, happy birthday!!!! Yay! :)

[tessjordandesigns]

I need coffee...

[SilverBlueberry]

Tess you made me look at stones. >:/ My Rio cart is full too. Sigh. I have to order today or tomorrow so it arrives in time for bf to pick it up.

Nikki, love all the pretties! And that stone looked wonderful (forgot your name, to lazy to check)

[LauraStasa]

Thank you for the BD wishes, everybody. It's nice to have an unplanned day.

o.k. off to play!

[Former_Member]

novaofsweden says:
<--- have never been to a rock and gem show


I'd get in too much trouble LOL

Oh Tess...yes, yes you would, lol! They are amazing places and how I developed my love of Rocks and Minerals.

I finally felt somewhat well last night, even rode my pony :) So, didn't spend much time on the computer last night, but I did manage to get some photos taken of some new work.

This is a piece I made with a stone called Magnesium. The stone was mined in the same place as turquoise, but is not turquoise. The lady I purchased it from, mined it with her husband back in the 70s...so this is old stock. Very pretty material and not dyed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissilynn/5392289682/

I'm also donating these two items for a Charity Auction:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissilynn/5391688809/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissilynn/5392292406/

Made an extra heart bracelet to list in my Etsy store tonight.

[Former_Member]

novaofsweden says:
<--- have never been to a rock and gem show


I'd get in too much trouble LOL
******************************************

I take cash and leave my debit card at home lol. It is the only safe way to do it!

[Former_Member]

lovely pieces Chrissi - the bracelet is gorgeous.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Nikki! I actually made two...one I'm listing tonight and the other one is for the donation. My husband couldn't believe that I made two of something, lol...I usually only make one of something. I liked the design so well, that it was fun to make it again :)

[tessjordandesigns]

Love the bracelet too Chrissi. So glad to hear that you are feeling better!

[ShireJewelry]

that's Ok, I'm Lisa I just did another but not as pretty as the one my son picked out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/49764203@N08/5393264866/in/photostream/ Its like meditating to cab a stone. Ok, off with a friend for a while.

[tessjordandesigns]

Lisa that is so cool that you cab stones! I wish I had the tools, knowledge and time to try it!

[ShireJewelry]

well, no one taught me how to do it. I bought the flat lap on craigs list and the stones - I have about 1000lbs of slabs in the barn so I can cab till I croke lol Of course, the gem shows are hard not to buy from as well. I have to look the other way when I see new stones. Thanks !

[tessjordandesigns]

1000lbs of slabs *big eyes*
That is a lot of stone!!

silver's $26.80 at rio... anyone think it's gonna get lower anytime soon?

[Former_Member]

Hope so Tess. I need to buy silver, but have been waiting for a bit. Just sent in my app for a big show that I do every other year and the booth fee is really high.

[tessjordandesigns]

I'm gonna try to hold out a bit longer...

What show are you doing?

[Former_Member]

It's a regional trade show I do every other year for a geology group. I know a lot of the organizers from the oil and gas industry. It's a lot of fun, but since it's an industry show, the booth fee is really high ($700 for a 3-day show) however, it's very worth it and I have a lot of fun at this show. They rotate the location every time...so that makes it fun as well.

[tessjordandesigns]

Sounds like a great show! I really need to start doing shows too. It won't happen this year but hopefully next year I'll get my feet wet.. I'll have to start with a really small one first to get a feel for it..

Do you have a tent? If so which brand/size etc?

[SilverBlueberry]

What Tess said about cabbing stones. They look great Lisa!

[Former_Member]

I have an EZ-Up tent...and it's a must for an outdoor show! They don't take up a huge amount of space in my garage, and once you get the technique down for setting it up, it's not bad. I believe mine is a 10ftx10ft. I found it at Sam's club on sale. About $200 or so...best money ever spent!

The trade show is inside...which is NICE! I'm not much of a fan of outdoor shows here because the weather in Oklahoma is always so unpredictable. My husband and I are trying to decide if we want to participate in a winery show that we did last year. It's just one-day, but it's in April, and we were rained out last year. We might go ahead and do it, on the condition that the first sign of rain, we are packing up and going home, lol. The fee is only $25, so if we end up bailing, it wouldn't be a big loss.

Shows can be a lot of fun. It's nice to see how people react to your work in person and I always enjoy talking with people too. It's a great way to network, and I've had a lot of local opportunities come my way from doing shows. My best advice is look for ART shows and not CRAFT shows. People who shop at Art shows tend to be more appreciative of your work and tend to not get sticker shock at appropriately priced items.

[2TrickPony]

Happy birthday Laura:)

[lsueszabo]

tess- i do some shows, including the big ann arbor art festival- one of the top 10 shows in the country. i ditto everything chrissi just said.

[Former_Member]

I wanted to do a big contemporary art show this year, but with uni final exams, a dissertation to write, a full time job and a wedding to plan I didn't think I would have enough time! Maybe next year :-)

[2TrickPony]

I bought a tent at costco, because you have a year to return it if it breaks. and you can get a bad one, they are pretty rinky dink.

back in the cave man days of craft fairs, we used to make our own tents. the eugene saturday market has a booth design that I used to make a really nice home-made booth. People really responded to the wooden booth, too.

[Former_Member]

which image should be first do you think? I can't decide between 1 and 3?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66843175/amber-crown-ring-amber-sterling-silver

[2TrickPony]

its a toss up to me Nikki, I like them both.


not much help.