September Chat thread

[#1]

Welcome metalsmiths ( or should I say "metalworkers"?)
If your name isn't on the list, head over to the Introduce Yourself thread and follow the instructions there please :-)

AbellaBlue = Jessica
AlegraJewelry = Vicki
AlexSharDesigns = Gaynor
AlisonMooreDesigns = Ally
anidem = Jesse
artdi = Diana
AZBluerockers = Mary Lou
bagsnstuff = Dianna
BeatrizFortes = Beatriz
BellaBijouJewellery = Jaime
BellaBijouToo = Jaime
bddesigns= Christen
bijoutery = Jen, Jennifer, or bijoutery
Brokentreasures= Amanda
Brontotheroocity= James L.
cabbingrough = LauraH
CGWhitfield = CG, or Cliff
CharOuellette = Char
Chrissilynn2=Chrissi
Chrissicabs=Chrissi
corybethy = Cory
DaisiemaiCreations = Janea
DaVineJewelry = Danielle
DiemDesignsJewelry = Sarah Jo (CarpeDiemGems)
DominicanLounge= Alpha
Doxallodesigns = Janice
Doxallostudio = Janice
Duffy Designs= Duffy
Eklektisch = Cole
Elementaldesigns= Denise
EmilyWiserJewelry = Emily
Epiphany of a Dragonfly = Wanda
evelynjewelry = Evelyn
evittscreekarts= Lois
ericafreestone = Erica
EyemaginationRSB = Robin
FiliGraceJewelry = Grace
fix8ion = Tammy
FoldAndSpindle = Mike
FoxyGirlBoutique = Melissa
GirlLovesGlitter = Lilian
HappyTortoiseSupply = Jason
Hartleystudio = Ann
HRBeaDesign = Heather
InbarBareket = Inbar
JackStones = Jack
JaneaPauline = Janea
JazznJewelry = Kathy
JelliesJewelry = Jack
JenniferCasady = Jen or Jennifer
Jewelrytutorials = Janice
JonesingforJewelry = Carin
KarlaWheelerDesign = Karla
karmahjean = Karen
kiliari = Raina
KimberlyBellDesigns = Kim
KimVGlass = Kim V
KitandCaboodleShop = Gayle
KriksSilver = Kristie
lamazonian = Vema
LauraRoberson= Laura
LeahBestDesigns=Leah
Lilnut = Caroline
litapsilverj = Lita
Lovebuttonsca = Laura
lsueszabo = Sue
Luxedesignworkshop = Peg
MarcusBerknerJewelry = Marcus
Markaplan = Mark
mattjohnsondesigns =Matt
Maythenwolfbane= Nicole
Metalluxe = Peg
MieleMelograno = Liz
MissToryDesigns = Lina
novadesigns = Tess
novaofsweden = Tess
NRjewellerydesign = Nikki
OrmanaDesign = Katya
OverThinkingIt = Bree
Ppennee = Pennee
PureDichotomy = Wendy
RadianTrace = Ronnie
Ranchiquita = Becki
rockaholic=Peggy
sbevisdesigns = sue
ScrapMetal = Addie
ShireJewelry = Lisa
SilverBlueberry = Esmeralda
SilverLinesJewelry = Jenny
SilverMade Studio = Teresa
silvermaven= Carol and Jackie
StoneBeautiful = Jenn
StoneTemple = Mark
SToNZ = Susan
SugarCity = Grace
thebutterflygirl = Veronika
TheSpeeceCollection = Pat
ThirteenGems=Melissa
tinkertown = Sue (tinkerSue)
Treasuregypsy = Darcy
TreeFrogJewelry = Sheryl
TwoSilverMoons = Birgit
UntwistedSister=Terri
valerietyler = Valerie
verysmallbird = Heather
VillainAccessories = Brandi
VisionQuest = kim or VQ
WednesdaysDesign= Kristina (Wednesday)
wpcardenas= Wanda
2trickpony = Rachel
3sweetpeasjewelry = Gina

[Former_Member]

>>> i was just thinking of making ingots and forging them into things. also not worth the trouble? looks like fun.

Sorry mis-read. Whole different "ball of wax". If for fun, and trying out a new path, who knows? My favorite work is often things made with 'discarded' methods.

[LauraStasa]

Hi!

I finally caught up but sadly didn't have the wherewithal to finish the great relevancy thing that Sue posted. I just don't know how all of you keep up. I hate missing stuff!

I was also tempted by the Macaroons. Nice, Susan!

Sue, great work, great dress, and congrats! I left a few comments:)

Ever have one of those days where the Muses are with you, you're in "the flow" and all you get is one interruption after another? That was me today. I finally gave up after the hour long phone conversation with my MIL(whom I love dearly). The Muses flew, the flow froze, and I had to consign myself to collecting eggs and doing laundry. Bah!

[EvittsCreekArts]

Hi Laura,
wish you hadn't said "laundry". Forgot about that and it's 13 hours till school time. Bah from me too.

[LauraStasa]

Bah! Lois! And I haven't even been able to take a trip to Denmark to see what transpired there. There's just not enough hours in the day, I tell 'ya!

[hartleystudio]

I'm just popping in to say HI!! I'm home, tired, hungry and SO GLAD TO BE HOME!!!!

I'll check in later and try to catch up. My kids are like two wild animals. :( Bedtime should be fun.

[LauraStasa]

Welcome home Ann. Put those beasties to bed! Warm milk and a magnesium tablet always works for me.

[cgwhitfield]

Done for the day. a hot rye will work for me. Cool day, fall is here.

[VisionQuest]

good news bad news, eh, CG?? cooler is easier to work in, but it means you have fewer days to get-er-done..

and "hot rye"-- i guess you aren't referring to a sammich . ;)

[cgwhitfield]

Nope, rye in a glass.

Schedule says blocks will be done on Tuesday, the rest of the week should see every four feet of block cavities filled with concrete, and the whole top course filled with concrete to hold the bolts for the sill plate, interior footings poured. That will be the last of the concrete/masonry work, just in time to avoid too much freezing. Then a warm day would be nice for the exterior of the blocks to get a waterproof coating. Then the built up beams for the joists, the joists, and the subfloor plywood. Easy peasy now.

Oh, and the two inches of hard insulation going on the inside of the crawl space.

Then I can stop boring people. Well, more than usual....

[lsueszabo]

hey guys. home from the studio.
sorry susan, i wasn't around for your medical problem. i agree with esme, the reaction is likely an allergic one, not too uncommon. many folks (myself included) are allergic to thimerosal which is the preservative in medical vaccines. not serious, benadryl or claritin and ice will help. should be gone in a couple days.
sorry your muse left you laura. that's one reason i like working away from home- no major interruptions.
cg- sounds like good progress was made.
time for a bit of dinner.

[cgwhitfield]

If a Muse would deign to pick up a tool and actually do some work....that'd be nice.

[lsueszabo]

yes, we can dream can't we?
i need some sales dust. shop's been dead for 2 wks now. lots of views though. i need to start re-titling and re-tagging for relevancy. it seems like such a daunting task and i keep putting it off. might try to get a start on it tonight.

[cgwhitfield]

Well, there's one pendant that's going to sell within, what?, five weeks.

I do think there's value in having a few items in smaller categories, luckily I'm mainly in bracelets anyway, but it at least offers a chance of getting people to your shop. From there they may browse at will.

[lsueszabo]

no doubt. i do sell brooches which is a smaller category, but probably for good reason. i did sell a $250 brooch here, but only one (so far!).
i want to list that necklace- i just need to get better photos, i just got my macro lens working again. any guess what price i should ask?

[cgwhitfield]

Well, to win a bet, I'm gonna say $99.....

I have absolutley no idea. But, it does have that universal look, and will appeal to many who would never dare to 'go arty'. I wouldn't go shy on the price.

[JelliesJewelry]

Managed to retag and title a page and a half for SEO. Sheesh, what a bunch of chore. I'll keep at it and check the stats, maybe it will help

[lsueszabo]

i'm doing the same jack. ugh.
haha, $99..... funny.

[lsueszabo]

well, listed a new item 15 min ago- 0 views so far. hmm, relevancy you say?

[tinkerSueshop]

Now it has a view....hee!

[lsueszabo]

thanks tsue :) i feel MUCH better now. haha.
how are you?

[Former_Member]

And another, Sue.
But will have to catch up after nap.
Got back from 70 kms of gravel driving with a pocket full of quarter sized soft garnets. DH has 3 better quality stones.
Half a bucket of nice garnet in schist and several stones that will become part of the driveway...
Have a couple of pics to post later.

[2TrickPony]

Hi Tsue!

I looked too.
with relevancy you need to think like someone searching.
someone very simple, and general
This is hard for us to do. we know too much.

consider pendant.
paisley clois (sp) enamel pendant set in sterling silver. r.e.b.
paisley pendant
enamel pendant
sterling silver necklace
oxidized silver necklace

you have an extra "with" in the first sentence, too

put some of your search terms in the search box. A drop down will appear with selections other people have used to search with. see if any of those will work for you.

also try looking in your stats to see if there are any search terms that can help you.

try not to split up words that naturally go together, like, silver necklace.

[cgwhitfield]

Looked.

[lsueszabo]

thanks rachel. is pendant better than necklace? i was told that most people search for necklace and not pendant so i tend to use that instead. willing to learn- is that untrue? does anyone know?

[2TrickPony]

although in the forums they would tar and feather me for suggesting this, I would use both in this case. It is a pendant. On a necklace. its both.