A vast improvement.

So I've been trying to improve the quality of the picture I take on my jewelry.  Not so easy a task with a simple point and shoot type camera.  However, I stumbled upon, or was directed to a couple of sites with instructions for a simple DIY light tent.  I know I still have a long way to go, but my first attempts are a tremendous improvement.  See for yourself:

 This is a "before" pic, with only a broad spectrum light and a white background.

 This is the same necklace using my newly constructed light tent and the same light source.

I must say, I'm a little excited. I just need more practice, maybe some better lighting, and a new camera would be nice.

Busy day... and I'm not even working

My fiance and I are meeting with the pastor this morning for the last time before the wedding. Then it's off to my old house to get copies of the music we're using: Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons (2nd movement) and the finale to Stravinski's Firebird Suite. Then to Michael's for our guest "poster" and material to build a light tent on the cheap. Then to make an appointment to get my hair done for the wedding. Then to my parents' to pick up my hair piece. Then home to do some cleaning. Like I said, busy day.

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New Year=New Things

Not really, I've just been busy... educating myself on how to make a business work, learning more about the whole social networking thing, and so on.  

The result:  I've decided to start over.  New Etsy shop, which isn't open yet.  Got rid of Picasa because I just didn't like it.  I'm slowly getting some photos on Flickr.  You can find me there at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpridejewelry/.  I've also started a twitter account, username @jpridejewelry.  

I'm going to be re-taking all of my pictures, trying for better quality.  I've only got a few of my current ones on Flickr, but don't worry, I'm not changing my Facebook page and all of the old pics are still there. 

Updates on my progress will be forthcoming.  My first goal is a better work area, and I've already got a plan :)

The downside to working with glass...

I had been thinking a lot about creating some sort of signature piece, one that would coordinate with my logo. I already had in my possession a sterling silver dragonfly and some pink wire. The I happened across some purple disks in two sizes that were the perfect shade, and some dyed pink jade that was just right. Throw in some seed beads for just a touch of green, and I had everything I needed.  

 

It was perfect, and it was done except attaching the dragonfly to the center disk.  All was well and I was wrapping the last bit of wire and tucking the end in.  But I wasn't careful enough. *sigh* I broke one seed bead and now the symmetery is off.

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow?

Should I or Shouldn't I?

So I'm thinking about re-taking all of my photos.  I think I like the ones I've left on a cork background better than the ones I edited the background out.  Plus I have some new stuff the get photos of.  If you can believe it, almost all of my photos were taken with the camera in my cellphone.  Seriously.  The 5 MP camera in my Backflip takes better pics than my 8.1 MP Nikon.  Who knew?  I'm not even sure how many pieces I have now, but I'm anxious to get them out there for the world to see.

The finished piece

It's finally done, after several days of broken pins, broken beads, and lots of cursing.  I don't want to even think about how many beads I used.

My Guardian (not at all related to my work, but I wanted to share)

 This is my guardian.  His name is Cisco.  

As you may know, it is widely believed that cats have an awareness of things that humans do not have the capability to perceive.  

Last fall, my fiance and I noticed our cats exhibiting strange behavior when they were outside in our back yard, like they were spooked by something that we couldn't see.  Like there was something wrong out there.  We took it for what it was and didn't think that much about it.

Fast forward to this fall/winter.  We rely mainly on a wood-burning fireplace for heat at night.  Keeps the power bill from being too outrageous.  Since he works during the day, and I am unemployed, it falls to me to gather twigs and small branches for kindling...from our back yard, which is somewhat wooded.


Every time, without fail, even though it's broad daylight when I go out, Cisco is always with me.  Usually not more than 10 feet away, but always within sight.  He follows me wherever I go like he's watching over me.  He has even gone so far as to stop me from approaching certain areas by running up and standing on my feet.  Now I could of course easily nudge him aside and keep going, but there's something about the way he stands and looks up at me that stops me.


There may or may not be something wrong out there, I have no way of knowing.  But Cisco thinks there is, which is why he is my guardian.

Out of nowhere...

I've got so many ideas running through my head right now I don't know what to do with myself. What better place to write them down than here?

I've got one started with a fancy jasper focal bead with low-grade amethyst and pale green seed beads. I love the lower grade amethyst beads because no two are alike. Striations, inclusions, and every shade of purple you can think of.

Another I've got started will be a riot of red, white, and silver beads and perhaps some wire spirals. All on a few inches of chain, finished off by red satin ribbon.

Then I have a few random beads I'm not sure what to do with. Maybe I'll combine them all into one piece. Who knows.

I'm starting to teach myself some wire work beyond the simple loop, so I'll be practicing my spirals for a while before moving on to something more challenging.

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Christmas is looming...

With Christmas rapidly approaching, I feel like I should be making more Christmas themed items, but other than some red and green beads, I have no real inspiration this year. So I'm sticking with the status quo...

I've gotten nothing but compliments, which is encouraging, but no sales, which is discouraging. I'm still working on the whole exposure thing.

I have had one custom order. This was a fairly easy one since the person was with me to pick out colors and shapes, and the finished product turned out pretty well. What do you think?

EDIT:  removed picture, no longer on picasa

It's made of red (orange) and green aventurine, and a stone I've never heard of:  naodelate.  Being a geologist, it's odd for me to come across something I've never heard of before.  I used some of the left over beads to make a pair of earrings to be sold solo...