Kityikana

2010-05-18T19:55:00.000-04:00

2010-05-18T19:53:00.001-04:00

2010-05-18T19:50:00.001-04:00

2010-01-26T19:48:00.003-05:00

2010-01-22T21:34:00.002-05:00

Mookaite seahorse!

2010-01-22T21:17:00.003-05:00

2009-12-05T17:51:00.001-05:00

2009-10-05T21:53:00.000-04:00

Black lip shell, pearl, sterling silver.

2008-12-20T18:21:00.000-05:00

Nephrite jade, serpentine, pearls, silver.

2008-12-08T16:16:00.004-05:00

You know what the problem with winter is? (apart from the whole "it's so cold I can't tell if my nose is still attached to my face" type thing, I mean).

The problem is layers. One wears a jumper and a jacket and a coat and a scarf and whatever else... and by the time you walk out the door that great necklace you put on is hidden and nobody can see it.

The solution is thusly:

See? A large necklace, one that won't get lost amongst layers. Not so large that it can't be worn at other times of the year, but large enough to be seen when bulky jumpers get in the way. That heart is 5 centimetres across each way, 2 inches! Nice, yeah? It's cappuccino jasper, and though admittedly I don't know if cappuccino jasper is recognised as a jasper variety, it sure looks good.

I've made a variety of these, I'm going to upload photos now that I'm back blogging - moving is a pain in the pattootie, truly (I've never used that word before, but it's safer than the words I really want to use). I've still not finished setting myself up properly - I've more space, but less storage, if that makes any sense.

So that necklace? $90 including shipping in the USA. A bargain when you consider it's a one off, don't you think?

Did you choose a Christmas present for yourself yet? Maybe it's time to start looking...

2008-09-03T13:20:00.002-04:00

When bead meets floor...

$44.44 plus shipping.

I need to be more careful.

2008-08-11T16:56:00.000-04:00

Each day I see more and more things available for sale on etsy (jewellery section) which are evidently manufactured, and not designed and made by hand.

Not only is it disheartening for those of us trying to sell things we've designed and made ourselves, it dilutes the value of the site.

It's one thing to incorporate a mass-made pendant into a necklace you've designed; it's quite another to claim you've made a pendant which is obviously mass-made in Indonesia. I recognise a pendant that's been made in Indonesia, don't claim you made it in your smoke-free home in Pennsylvania. Yes, the pendant you're trying to paw off as hand-made probably IS hand-made, by somebody who gets 2 US cents an hour, who makes hundreds of them per day, who had no input into the design. Somebody who is not you.

Ditto for the manufactured diamond rings available.

There's a special quality to an item that has been made with love and care, that is limited edition or one of a kind, there's a special charm to these items. Don't contaminate that with mass-produced, repetitive, mechanical stuff.

On a lighter note, after years of making jewellery, I finally have some of my things in a store - a high end jewellery store on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. Woot!

And on a not-so-light note, we have to move. The owner of the house needs the space, and we've been asked to leave. My husband's been living here for 10 years, and I had hoped we'd stay here a bit longer - not 14 months ago I moved from Sydney, I thought I was set for a while, I thought I'd paid my "moving" dues! Alas, it's not to be.

2008-07-22T22:15:00.002-04:00

This is my newest fish hook; I was having difficulties getting it crispy shiny, so I decided to go the other way, and I gotta say... I love it! It looks like it's been put through the ringer and come through the other end with a wealth of knowledge.

2008-07-12T18:14:00.004-04:00

Sometimes it takes me longer than anticipated to finish something, and then I do finish it and the satisfaction is amazing!
I believe I first mentioned the Maori fish hooks here; I love Hei Matau, and I've made several through the years... now I've made some more, one of which I've listed in the shop.

I'll be listing more soon - I have four carved hooks finished, and 5 or 6 made from sheet metal about to be finalized. Exciting!

2008-07-05T18:44:00.001-04:00

I love looking through etsy, looking at what's available for sale and how it's been photographed. You learn a lot just looking at the photos, from what works and doesn't to personal preferences.

One of my personal preferences is to not include faces; I want to look at the jewellery, not at the face. I like it when necklaces are photographed on a neck because it gives you a great way of gauging size and length... but don't show your face, and specially (most specially!) don't show your face if you're frowning!!

2008-07-03T19:52:00.003-04:00

I've spent the last twelve months comparing life in Philadelphia to life in Sydney; it seems I keep finding things that are different, even after all this time.

For example: did you know that the solder wire here is thicker than in Sydney? You'd think it wouldn't matter, but it actually does - after soldering with the same solder for five years, suddenly the wire is thicker and takes longer to melt... weird.

I'm blaming that difference on the difficulty I had with this pendant *nod*.

I like it anyway.

2008-07-01T19:40:00.004-04:00

When I went to New Zealand in 2003 I spent some time window shopping at the local bead shop and I have a very clear memory of the wall full of shell stuff - beads and leaves and all sorts of bits and pieces. T'was wonderful, and I can't help but go back to that moment every time I see the shell carvings available for jewellery making.

2008-06-19T14:52:00.002-04:00

You know those blog entries you read that go "omg my poor blog I have you so abandoned etc etc etc"?

Well, just pretend you're reading one of those again, k?

It's not like I've not had time to update, or not like I've nothing to say (I'm working on something super secret shhh).

It's just that I've been having too much fun!

2008-06-05T18:16:00.001-04:00

Two people read my blog. Terrible stats, huh? So you're each getting a bracelet. *nod*.

2008-05-23T13:20:00.004-04:00

I've just noticed that I'm not keeping up with posting links to the things I've got for sale at the shop. Most remiss of me, really.

These are two of the necklaces available right now:

I love love love these fishies! There's some kind of symbolism, surely, in wearing fish made out of ocean jasper, don't you think?

This one has chiang hai "jade" (that is to say, marble! love it).

2008-05-21T12:46:00.003-04:00

I cannot really tell you how good I felt when I won the bracelet from Kathy a few days ago, but I promised myself that I would pass the feeling on when I sold my first piece of jewellery on etsy.

And I sold my first piece (woot!) and so I'm giving away this bracelet:

It's made with handmade Indian lampwork beads, and I like the cheery feeling it has.

I've no idea how many people (if any!) read this blog, but leave a comment, and at the end of May my husband will pull a number out of a hat (well, maybe not a hat, I'm not sure we have one we can use...) and I'll send the bracelet off to whomever wins it.

2008-05-19T13:49:00.003-04:00

We went to New York on Thursday. We do like our NY trips, which generally include a quick stop-off at Metalliferous, and a not-so-quick stop-off at MoMA.

At Metalliferous I got a strand of labradorite with the most amazing flashes! I like labradorite, but it's not a favourite stone by any means. Who can resist this though?

I've made a couple of necklaces which I'll have to post on etsy:

2008-05-10T21:25:00.004-04:00

Look what I have!

Is it not fabulous?

I was most impressed with the packaging too - he has his own little tin to sleep in, and a gorgeous badge for my summer bag.

Thank you Kathy, so appreciated.

Essene Market and Cafe had its yearly Spring Fair yesterday. They have a selection of suppliers inside the store giving out samples and such, and they have more suppliers and crafts people on the footpath. Being that I have such close ties with management (heh... I'm married to a manager, lol), I was given a table right outside the front door, so every person going into the store had to see my table.

At this stage it's about getting the name out, and talking to people. I had fun because I know all the staff, and many customers, so I got to talk to them, and my husband's best mate came over to keep me company. He bought me a little ceramic cup with a winking face on it - I'll be using it in future to stash business cards in. I'll take a photo.

My table was very simple - a silver coloured table cloth, in keeping with my colours of silver and burgundy, and white/ off white ceramic plates with rice/beans, holding some jewellery. I've not yet figured out how I want to display things, but whatever I do has to be as lightweight as possible because we don't drive/have a car, so we have to carry everything. And it's not like Tim will be able to accompany me everywhere anyway, he works every Sunday and every second Saturday. Ah decisions!

2008-05-03T19:33:00.002-04:00

I have a number of blogs set up in my reader. I check the reader three or four (or more) times a day, and am always interested in finding out what's new.

Most of them are jewellery related blogs - they inspire me. Favourites include Elizabeth Williams, Mandala Jewels, and Dornick Designs - these three ladies make stuff I want to own.

Kathy, from Dornick Designs, has been giving away a piece of jewellery every Friday for I don't know how long; each time I read the post about it I go through an internal dialog that goes a bit like this:

- Oh nice
- I wouldn't mind having that
- I never comment though
- I can't comment just so I have a chance to win
- Oh but it's nice
- It's not ethical, really, I shan't say anything
- Oh but I wouldn't mind having it

And so I don't say anything, because really, making a comment in a person's journal just so you have a chance to win something... it feels wrong, know what I mean, regardless of how long you've been reading it?

But then last week... oh boy. Last week she said she was making her last Friday giveaway, and she was making it a doozie 'cause her birthday was coming up. A doozie, honest.

And I found myself having my usual internal dialog but this time I made a comment for the first time ever, because I like the bracelet so much and OMG who wouldn't want to wear it??

And... I won it. OMG I won it! I was so geeked out when I found out I had to call my husband to show him! I am the proud owner of a Dornick Designs Buddha bracelet... wow.

2008-04-20T21:19:00.005-04:00

I got a few of these brass bangles a few months ago. The intention was to add some charms to it so they made a tinkling noise... then I realised I could make a necklace too... so I did. Surprising, huh? I do like it though, the bangle is large, so the circle sits nicely on the chest.

2008-04-15T20:14:00.003-04:00

I've made a selection of these necklaces, featuring loose beads on thin silver chains; they remind me of the ceramic beads old Greek men handle - I don't know why, some say as a distraction when they give up smoking, but you see them often in Sydney, handling medium size ceramic beads strung on black cord.

2008-04-09T13:03:00.004-04:00

The Maori people of New Zealand believe that fish hooks, called Hei Matau, represent strength and determination and brings peace, prosperity and good health. They also provide safe journey over water.

I am fascinated by them, and I've made many over the years. This one is hand sawed from brass; I've paired it with beach glass because it seems appropriate.

2008-03-31T19:48:00.003-04:00

How's this for fabulousness in the shape of ocean jasper? I received a couple of strands with these gorgeous silvery jaspers; I'd been saving them, but really, it's time to let them loose in the outside world.

2008-03-30T18:52:00.003-04:00

I love making jewellery with coins, thus changing their value.

This goldstone bracelet features a two cent coin from Australia, from 1985, when cent coins were still being used; I believe cent coins stopped being produced in the early 90's in Australia, but you can still find them around in coin shops.

2008-03-30T15:02:00.002-04:00

I "heart" a lot of products and sellers on etsy, as inspiration and as possible future purchases.

I don't look at who hearts me often, but today I did, and I found something that intrigued me... There are six people who've "hearted" my shop, two of whom are suppliers who have made absolutely no purchases on etsy at all... are these people hearting me so I'll look at their shops? Are they being subtle in spamming me?

What do you think?

2008-03-21T16:53:00.004-04:00

I often wonder how much time people spend deciding how to price their items. I've been second guessing myself the entire week, changing prices left and right, getting more and more confused.

It's important that we each recover the costs of making whatever it is we make, as well as being compensated for the time and ideas behind the product... but then what? It's so easy to under and over price yourself.

I've now promised myself that I won't change my prices any more. They're set.

Till next time.

Have a look at the necklace I posted a few moments ago:

Fun, no?

2008-03-17T00:13:00.002-04:00

It's probably a good thing I have no money to spend. If I did, I'd likely be spending a large portion of it on stuff I find on etsy, such as this.

How stupendously fabulous is that pendant?? Beautifully made... man oh man, I want! Such an innovative idea too.

2008-03-15T14:59:00.003-04:00

I've been sick all week. Being sick is amazingly boring and unproductive. I've done nothing whatsoever, no jewellery, nothing.

But yesterday I started to feel better, so I thought I'd go to the bank - I received my State ID, as requested by the bank, and I need to open my etsy shop, which I can't do without a bank account.

Lucky me they decided that my State ID wasn't enough because it's less than 60 days old. I'm not going to go into the whole thing because it's the same old boring repetitive rubbish, but I left without an account, and there won't be an account at that bank. I'm going elsewhere.

To cheer myself up I bought a set of watercolour pencils. I've tried them at the studio and I quite liked them, even if I can't paint to save myself.

I got the idea from Amy at Wondercabinet. She does these fabulous silk screen printings on the pages of old books. I can't do silk screen printing, but I can splash some watercolours on a page and make an envelope to put my jewellery in, for the mythical day when I actually sell something, right?

So I've been having some fun with the pages of "You and Your Heart", a very dry, 1950 medical book about the health of the heart.

I'll have to post some photos when I finish a couple.

2008-03-06T17:28:00.002-05:00

I wish I could spend a couple of hundred dollars on new supplies - wire, plate, clasps, new stones, copper and brass and new chain, and a new hammer, and a new set of pliers, and I really really wish I could afford a full size soldering kit (mind you, before I do hat I'm going to have to learn how to solder with an oxygen tank - I've never used one before; in Sydney I did my soldering with a butane tank, and no oxygen tank).

Alas, I have no money (this is what happens when one doesn't work for 15 months 'cause one's changing one's whole life).

Sometimes I find it hard to make do; it's almost like my creativity is stifled because i can't afford to buy new supplies - I'm most often inspired by new things, specially beads and stones, so not being able to drop a couple of hundred... well, you know?

I made a couple of new necklaces - there's nothing wrong with the supplies I do have, of course, other than the fact I've seen it all a million times before!

2008-03-04T13:45:00.002-05:00

One of the very last pieces I made in Sydney before I packed everything away back in November 06 was a pendant. It was a large brass ring with a stone of some sort hanging from it - I'm not quite sure which one it was, it's one of several I brought with me.

It might have been this one. Or a similar one. I love this concept - a handmade ring with one or more gorgeous stones hanging from it; I feel like they really highlight the stones, and I wear these all the time.

I've made so many pendants like this, different stones, different materials... I really really hope they sell! (The pendant will be sold with a coordinating cord to hang it from). I've adjusted my prices a bit, in preparation for the day I'm actually able to open an etsy shop. (As an aside, I went to PennDot to get a State ID, only they're not open on Mondays... I did get a form to fill in, which I did, and I gotta say... what?? You need to submit proof of residency, for which they accept a tax return, a bank statement, a magazine subscription; somebody please explain to me how I'm supposed to get any of these without a bank account, which I can't get without a State ID?!! Fortunately they also take the person you live with as proof, as long as they have a State ID).

2008-03-01T18:42:00.001-05:00

On Thursday I did something I've been wanting to do for a while... I went to Hagstoz and got myself some wax. I love working with wax. I love the process, and the outcome.

It took me 10 minutes to remember what to do, how to do it - it's been at least 15 months since I did anything with wax. I've started working on a few pieces, and have already cut my thumb (of course).

I've found a company that does the casting; I'll have to go talk to them about prices.

This whole wax work thing is another step in the process of making jewellery a viable business for me; once I have a mold made, and I can get multiple copies of the same.

Talking about the viable business thing, one item on my to-do list is open a bank account; one can't open a bank account here without a sosec number, so I got one; one can't open a bank account here without residency, so I got it; one can't open a bank account here without the original passport, so I got it; turns out one also needs what is called a State ID. I don't got it. I was so pissed off yesterday - it's one thing after another, one hurdle and one more and then one more... never ending, and I'm getting quite tired of it, frankly.

2008-02-25T10:10:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I forced myself to sit at the desk and make something. It's been almost 2 whole months since I last finished anything; sometimes it's hard to maintain the momentum and the fact is that the less I do, the less I want to do.

It's not a new concept by any means - I've done this same design a few months ago, and people have been threading beads on chain for ever and a day, but I must admit I'm in love with them; I love the fact the beads are loose, and they clink when I move, and they can be used a bit as worry beads, turning them as you wish.

It's also a first step in reconciling my mind with the notion of repeat designs versus one of a kind. It's not realistic, really, to continue with the strict "one of a kind" concept, not if I want to make money out of this - and right now, it's not a want, it's a need.

They're not exactly the same either - colours are different...

Still, a productive day, and today I've made four more.

2008-02-21T20:01:00.004-05:00

Carved bone cat

Length: 44.5 cm/ 17.5 inches
Materials: bone, mountain jade, seed beads

2008-02-18T19:35:00.006-05:00

Ocean jasper and pearls

Length: 55 cm/ 21.5 inches
Materials: ocean jasper, pearls, copper

2008-02-15T19:16:00.002-05:00

Ocean jasper and silver

Length: 46 cm/ 18 inches
Materials: ocean jasper, silver, pearl, brass