Aqua Beaded Bracelet with Polymer Clay and Glass Beads

It's been a busy time, and I finally got back to the computer. I've listed another bracelet on Etsy. This one is a beautiful aqua blue.
Perhaps I'll have time to do more jewelry making since more snow has been forecast for this week (Can you believe it?). We have no place to put it all.
Last week was a great escape to Delaware, Baltimore and Washington D.C. to see the sights and friends and family. Coming back to Maine was rough. A thrown rod killed our Subaru engine right outside of NYC, a new used car saved the day, but then a drive home in a blinding snow storm was enough to fray every nerve. If I didn't know God was protecting us through the whole ordeal I would have lost it. Somehow along the way there were many reminders that He was watching out for us.

Tradewinds Bracelets in February

New bracelets that are bright and cheery on a chilly February day. Makes me dream of summer when I can actually wear them. Now here is the problem. I put them in my etsy shop and couldn't figure out how to list them. I usually sell them individually for $7, but when I sell them in a group they go down to $5 each. So I have to either put an individual listing up for one bracelet, or put another listing for a specific number of bracelets. I hope I don't confuse my customers because I'm already confusing myself.

Stones Necklace

Here is a necklace that has sold well when I'm on the road at craft shows. It looks very much like smooth stones taken from Moosehead Lake. Surprisingly lightweight, it's earthy and pretty. I've made several different ones in a variety of sizes. People always tell me they like the ease of the button clasp too.
I read in one of the Etsy forums that it is good to photograph your items on a simple background. Close up shots are desirable as well. I am wondering if the white background is too stark. Any thoughts? If you want to see this in my Etsy shop , click on this link: Stones Necklace

Another Charm Bracelet

I was happy to sell the gold and black charm bracelet, so of course I had to do another one. Nice to have a project to work on during these chilling cold February days. Today it was 0 when we left the house and the weatherman says tonight will be about 16 below. I'm staying in!

My son tells me he'll remind me of this in August when I'm complaining that it is too hot! I'll try to remember the chill going through my body this summer.

Crocus Blooms Freeform Peyote Stitch Beaded Necklace

This is one of my recent necklaces that I've just put on Etsy. You can see it at my moosewinks shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20346600. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It's shorter than many I've made, but still full of sparkle and texture.

Art Fire

I just signed up to be a seller/buyer on Art Fire. It's similar to Etsy. Not quite sure how you'll find me yet on Art Fire... still figuring that out. Probably best to just go to Art Fire and search for Moosewinks. I will also put a link to an interesting Art Fire blog which selects random items and allows you to click on them if interested. Clicking on the images will lead you to that person's Art Fire page. Go to http://moonstone.tumblr.com/
So now I have jewelry on Art Fire and Etsy! I hope it won't be confusing. This is the free form peyote stitch bracelet I just put on Art Fire, and it is also on Etsy!

Big Snowstorm !

Yesterday brought lots of snow. Well, I call it lots when I go outside and it is past my knees! I think it is quite beautiful and somehow relaxes me. I remember an old friend in high school days who wrote a song about God and snow. One of the lines in it was something like this :
You see when I die, I want to be covered over, I want to be as white as snow, so when the heavens look down on meeeeee....none of my wretchedness will show. His name was Jimmy Hunter (can't believe I remember) and it truly was a beautiful song. It was back then that I became aware that I needed God and my life changed.

So we stayed in until the plow guy came. I was able to take a few more pictures and set up my Google Analytics. I'll check tomorrow to see if I've done it right. There are some great tutorials in the Etsy forums on how to set this up as well as interpret them. Sweetfigments has a helpful one on her blog:
http://sweetfigments.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-set-up-your-google-analytics.html

I was even able to put a new charm bracelet up in my Etsy store. It's at the top of this post. What do you think?
check it out in my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=cat2_list_4&listing_id=19966397

Make a banner for your Etsy shop

Etsy is a great site! I found a tutorial on how to make a banner for your Etsy shop using a free photo editing program called Picasa 3. You have to go to Rachelsaprons blog to find out more. Her blog is fun to read and she even has a great fudge recipe on it! I already downloaded Picasa3 and now I'll try making the new banner.

Well, I can't use Picasa3 with my computer, so I did some research about other photo editing programs. Nothing for now that makes Etsy banners that easily. So THANK YOU so much to Rachel who helped me create one! Wow, how nice of her! Now I have to think about saving money for another computer in the future. With technology changing so rapidly. what we have becomes a dinosaur much sooner than we like! My new banner is at the top of this post!
You can se how it looks on my Etsy Shop by clicking : http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5629353