Ga'hooleTree Designs

Anemone Handmade Gemstone Lariat - Apatite, Pink Tourmaline and Lemon Topaz on Sterling Silver

2011-04-21T01:15:00.000-04:00

This lovely multi gemstone lariat just sold on Etsy! Anemone Handmade Gemstone Lariat - Apatite, Pink Tourmaline and Lemon Topaz on Sterling Silver by SassyDLite on etsy. Please contact me if you'd like to order something similar.

Anemone Handmade Gemstone Earrings - Apatite, Pink Tourmaline and Lemon Topaz on Sterling Silver

2011-04-21T01:00:00.000-04:00

Etsy Transaction - Anemone Handmade Gemstone Earrings - Apatite, Pink Tourmaline and Lemon Topaz on Sterling Silver

Pandora Necklace by Gahooletree

2011-04-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

60cm sterling Pandora necklace with ALE charms and ALE beads by Gahooletree on ArtFire

Sophisticated pandora necklace handmade in Toronto by designer Anna Lee Husband.

For full item description and to buy now please visit Gahooletree studio of handmade jewelry.

Gahooletree Jewelry on Etsy's Front Page ? ? ?

2011-02-25T01:49:00.000-05:00

well folks, there must be some mistake (perhaps two moons in the sky ??) because I just found out moments ago that one of my Gahooletree jewelry items actually DID make it to the front page on etsy. This blessed event apparently took place over a year ago! No kidding... nobody sent me a convo or announcement about this triumphant and miraculous happening either... I had no idea up until right now. Had I known, perhaps I wouldn't have moved most of my business to the Artfire platform! LOL

Lessons learned: Well made products aren't enough to get attention on etsy. Attractive and appealing designs don't get you noticed. Great pics don't really do it either. What works then you ask? Who knows. Since I've yet to try chanting in tongues or praying to the handmade gods perhaps either is worth a try.

Blue Topaz Elegant Slim Dangles on Gold Fill

2011-02-24T19:26:00.001-05:00

Blue Topaz Elegant Slim Dangles on Gold Fill
Originally uploaded by cdnallie

Xmas Gift Ideas

2010-12-03T22:05:00.002-05:00

Here are some of my favourites representing great value and perfect for gifting this holiday season. All UNDER $30!

Although other artists are welcome to add to this collection, my picks (from http://www.gahooletree.artfire.com) ship attractively boxed, ready for gifting and all designs are READY FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPPING too. Contact me for priority service.

Welcome to Gahooletree Artisan Jewelry & Bits on Zibbet.com!

2010-10-20T02:21:00.000-04:00

Rich Champagne Quartz Polka Dot Drops : GaHooleTree - ArtFire Jewelry

2010-10-19T13:47:00.001-04:00

great for autumn fall/winter

Ga'HooleTree Bridal Boutique Now Open on ArtFire!

2010-10-16T04:31:00.000-04:00

GahooleTreeBridal

Unique Gifts

Gahooletree Artisan Jewelry on Kaboodle

2010-10-06T15:01:00.000-04:00

Ga'HooleTree Artisan Jewelry
Main Grouping slideshow
(highlights from several seasonal collections both past and present)

by otulissa

Several of these items have sold out, so please email if you wish to order replicas. With all Ga'HooleTree creations, customization is always an option too so send me your design ideas to get things started.

GahooleTree boutique

Gahooletree on Etsy

GaHooleTree ArtFire Studio Now Open!

2010-10-06T04:08:00.000-04:00

Take a peek at my newest boutique, GahooleTree, located on ArtFire. My latest work is the Earth Elements collection for Fall/Winter 2010. The Ga'Hoole Tree Earth Elements collection features gorgeous gemstone treasures coupled with sterling silver in its raw state. These amazing pieces offer plenty of carat weight at an incredible price! Sterling silver accent pieces are handforged, hammered and aged for a mysterious primitive "earth elements" aura.

GaHooleTree

Unique Gifts

GahooleTree Artisan Jewelry is 100% handmade in Toronto by designer Anna Lee Husband. Custom work is welcome! Email Anna Lee with your design ideas for a prompt quote. Anna Lee will gladly develop your custom design, or if you like an existing creation with a twist here or there... that can easily be accommodated and the design will be replicated with swaps per your gemstone &/or colour specifications. All Ga'HooleTree designs can be customized and coordinating pieces are almost always an affordable option.

Pandora Galore at Ga'HooleTree Artisan Jewelry Toronto

2010-10-05T01:04:00.001-04:00

At Ga'HooleTree artisan jewelry we've been offering customized pandora styled jewelry adornments for quite some time. Our selection of unique quality pandora components is extensive. Whether you're looking for authentic limited edition beads bearing the pandora hallmark or the much more affordable copies, we have what you want. And like everything else from Ga'HooleTree these items are handmade in Toronto.

Above are studio shots from a project that wrapped up on Friday. This particular pandora styled bracelet was priced at $149 usd. The listing included a large sterling cuff with screw off removable ends, 3 genuine ALE beads, one genuine 925 sterling silver crystal laden charm and oodles of 925 core lampwork filler beads and tibetan silver spacers as shown.

Having prepaid (this item sold through our SassyDLite shop on etsy which is soon to be closed), the customer asked for a few colorway variations. After reviewing the emailed proofs, the red bracelet was eventually chosen. We spiced up this "starter" gift collection by adding a red jade dangle, a genuine ruby dangle and a genuine blue sapphire dangle (this item will be gifted to a wearer whose birthday was last week).

Email with your color and charm requirements for a prompt quote. I am always glad to accept any prepaid custom commission.

Check our Artfire shop for more gorgeous pandora items available fall 2010!

blue/green colorway - client proofs

How to tie your Pandora Lariat

2010-10-02T13:12:00.000-04:00

How to tie your Pandora Lariat

Use One Pandora Lariat for this design.

Double the lariat in 1/2 to form a loop at one end.
Thread the loop through a Pandora charm. Thread the charm towards the end of the bracelet.
Leave an open loop at one end.
Tie two knots, one of either side of the charm.
Thread another charm.
Tie another knot.
Continue this sequence to add as many charms as you like.
Tie a knot behind the last charm (so that every charm has one knot on either side of each charm).
Wrap the bracelet around your wrist.
Thread the metal ends through the loop at the opposite end.
Tie a knot at the end to fasten the bracelet in place.

It is best to tie the knots firmly, but not too tightly.

We have fast, secure online checkout in our ArtFire studio so you can purchase your pandora starter sets with leather lariat here!

Legend of the Guardians, The Owls of Ga'Hoole movie is finally here!

2010-09-30T00:42:00.001-04:00

At long last the movie has arrived! Legend of the Guardians, The Owls of Ga'Hoole opened in theatres last Friday. After a wait that seems like an eternity, I'm elated. We just returned from the theatre and I'm not disappointed! btw, no copyright infringement is herein attempted. I'm just a fan....

For those who aren't familiar, Guardians of Ga'hoole is a series of children's books written by acclaimed author Kathryn Lasky. This movie chronicles a classic tale of valor where old school values like championing the cause of innocents and vanquishing evil are espoused.

Legend of the Guardians, The Owls of Ga'Hoole is a pure unadulterated fairy tale about an unlikely band of owl heroes. These popular books have earned millions of fans worldwide and this mythic tale was the inspiration behind my Ga'Hoole Tree Artisan Jewelry that is 100% handmade in Toronto.

Having read all the Guardians of Ga'Hoole books, I was somewhat concerned that the movie would omit too much relevant content. In fact I doubted that any screenplay could possibly do justice to the plethora of interesting content contained in the series.

We didn't view the movie in 3D so maybe I'll go back for that. My husband didn't appreciate the somewhat light treatment and fast pace on certain scenes, but with movie adaptations it is always difficult to please every reader...

Anyhow, I *adored* the flavour and spirit of this film. The animation is extraordinary. Images and many scenes are just as I had imagined them! With voices provided by a truly killer cast including Helen Mirren, Geoffrey Rush and Sam Neill the soundtrack and script were even more enjoyable than I anticipated. And the Owl City theme song didn't disappoint either.

Two years ago a stranger on YouTube pointed me towards the work of Owl City. They likely found me because my online handle on many social networking sites is "gahooletree". Anyhow, I definitely enjoy the music of Adam Young and his movie theme song "To The Sky" is great. I will purchase either the movie soundtrack or album. I'll pick up a copy of this movie when it becomes available for purchase too. Is there a sequel in the works? :)

http://www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks/videos/index.htm?pid=1847329102&bclid=1815835692&bcpid=1847329102&bcpid=1909906952&bctid=524209848001

our cool new Ga'Hoole Tree Jewelry gift box labels

Love Is In The Air - Custom Handcrafted Bridal Hair Pins by Gahooletree Toronto

2010-08-16T13:38:00.002-04:00

Fresh from my bench, these custom bridal hair pin designs incorporate beautiful freshwater cultured pearls, keishi petal pearls, pink aquamarine and various swarovski crystal elements. The lacy metal is sterling silver wire, but I create similar offerings using non tarnish argentium wire too. Press the arrow in the above embedded video to play it.

Custom Bridal Hair Pins by Gahooletree Toronto

This one of a kind bridal hairpin collection features a prominent and edgy 5 inch wide focal bridal chignon hair pin which includes gorgeous keishi petal pearl accents ($69). In the above embedded video you'll see two medium sized complementary pins ($39 each). These new bridal hairpin designs will soon be available for purchase at http://www.gahooletree.etsy.com/ and http://www.annalee.artfire.com/. And to round out this chignon pin ensemble I've made a set of matching tiny accent pins for spot placement.

To recap this project thus far, the commission is a wedding chignon updo adornment. For the bride in question, I recommend flanking the chignon (one on either side) with the large hairpin and one medium pin. Using identical pins will give a slightly more dated/pageant look. This suggested hair pin assymetry will also work well if an off-center chignon placement is eventually decided upon.

Genuine gemstone bridal hair accessories also available upon request

To shape my large pin, the hair stylist should grip it in his fist with pin ends downward and the three main fronds draped over the top of fist (think of the shape of a palm tree). All of the individual elements on my hair accessories are bendable, so the idea here is for the stylist to shape and form the pin into a curved umbrella shape prior to placing the pin in the hair. Shaping the pin into a cool three dimensional form will shrink its overall footprint and allow the stylist to fill whatever space seems most attractive.

Traditionally, handwired bridal hair pins/combs were formed flat prior to being placed in the hair, but today's twisted, knotted updos demand dimensional hair accessories. To achieve the needed dimension, the stylist should bend my individual design elements to stand perpendicular to the scalp -- or shape them to form clustered sprays, but definitely you'll get a far more modern look if my pins/combs are NOT left flat.

Three dimensional pins are hot!

My bridal design themes can be created in a variety of jewelry applications: hair pins, hair combs, tiaras, garlands, brooches, or even gemstone or crystal boutonnieres for the guys! And of course, coordinating or complementary jewelry pieces for bridesmaids, mother of the bride etc. are always an option too. I almost always have pastel pearls and crystals on hand for this purpose.

Most popular pastel pearls/crystals are available for bridesmaid creations

With so many levels of customization available, the world of handmade gemstone bridal jewelry can seem daunting: wedding day jewelry applications and their design possibilities are endless, so the modern bride has many jewelry considerations to bear in mind. I try to ascertain through interview exactly what each bride loves and what she can realistically afford. And no budget is too small in my view :)

I find that my brides invariably have put a great deal of thought into the flavour of wedding that will make them happy. And if they haven't done that yet :) then I'll gently guide them through the process. It may mean weeks or months of back and forth negotiations, but in the final analysis, my brides "always get it right" and I rely heavily on them to outline their likes/theme ideas and advise me which pieces and colorways I need to create.

Garlands, tiaras and headbands: nice alternative to bridal pins/combs

In addition to adding focal hair pins or hair combs within your bridal updo, it is often a good idea to provide your hair stylist with a set of smaller bud pins. These cute mini accents not only tie the coiffure theme together but can prove to be invaluable styling aids if your stylist needs to tack down any loose/stray ends.

Mini accent pins may be worn alone, grouped as shown here or just add a few to complement focal hair accessories

I can easily create mini pins to match (or coordinate with) any bridal hair accessory theme. Check back to my studios for more tiny (and affordable) bridal accent hairpin styles coming soon!

Handmade boutonnieres available in
gemstone, crystal or pearl

And check my studios for handmade gemstone boutonnieres and stunning crystal boutonnieres coming soon too!

new Ga'HooleTree Owly Artwork

2010-05-05T11:33:00.000-04:00

isn't this little hooter just adorable? He's part of a set of artwork that I purchased from Linda aka Tortagialla.... and I just love him. Linda, the artist behind the Tortagialla brand is oh so interesting. As she puts it she's "a Californian girl who took the plunge and moved to the Tuscan hills of Italy - now creating art and design for a happy crafty life! -Tortagialla, Capanne-Montopoli, (PI), Italy" Wow, I was impressed that this gal is actually "living the dream"!

Tortagialla has several cool sites and outlets like an etsy shop, an online gallery of art prints and Linda even has her own line of fabric designs too.

Below are some of the other owly friends that I purchased from Linda. Using Adobe Illustrator I painted and played with the basic outlines in order to get these little feathered friends ready for prime time.... but I'm quite happy with the final results. Here at the Ga'Hoole Tree we'll be using these new images in our coupons, banners, blogs, etc. Cool stuff!

the Ga'HooleTree Clan

Swiss Blue Topaz Marquis and 14k Gold Fill Modern Dangle Earrings

2010-04-30T16:01:00.001-04:00

Swiss blue topaz marquis cut modern dangle earring in 14k gold fill

Toronto artist Katya Trischuk creates stunning Easter egg keepsakes

2010-03-31T20:16:00.000-04:00

Toronto artist Katya Trischuk creates stunning Easter egg keepsakes

Posted using ShareThis

Above is a link to my first article in the official capcity of Toronto Arts and Crafts Editor on Examiner.com. This feature is about the amazing talents of Katya Tischuk, an acclaimed oil artist who is also the genius behind Ukrainian Easter Eggs on etsy.

Please subscribe to the feed (there's a subscribe button at the top of the article). By subscribing you'll get regular updates delivered to your email.

I'm now on the lookout to find more Toronto area artisans to write about. If you know someone who would be a good fit for my column have them write me via examiner.com or by email at tiger_eye at rogers dot com.

Handmade Mystic Blue Topaz and Aquamarine Dangle on 22k vermeil wires

2010-03-28T17:46:00.008-04:00

glorious gemstone dangles to perk up your spring!
ONLY $46.00

Click here to make them yours or copy & paste this link into your browser: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43479086

Handmade Mystic Blue Topaz and Aquamarine Dangle on 22k vermeil wires
Originally uploaded by cdnallie

New Gahooletree Spring 2010 Designs: Fashion Series (turquoise tones with purple/reds and other genuine gemstone creations in the season's hottest colours)

2010-03-28T17:09:00.001-04:00

Here are some of my spring 2010 designs (the album is resident on Durham Region Handmade Cafe on Ning):

Find more photos like this on Durham Region Handmade Cafe

New pics: from our Spring 2010 Fashion Series.. genuine gemstone creations in the season's hottest colors. Some pieces are for sale right now at http://www.gahooletree.etsy.com or at http://www.sassydlite.etsy.com where you can shop 24/7 with secure checkout using PayPal or any major credit card.

All my designs are available through http://www.oraclegemdesigns.com or email me for online purchasing.

Everything I create is customizable to suit your specifications and I love custom work!

Call 905-718-7080 for mail order.

Local pick up available.

Bulk pricing available on bridal packages. Brides call 905-718-7080 to reserve a studio consultation slot.

I have dozens of designs available for immediate retail purchase in my retail gallery & studio in Oshawa. All visits by appointment only 905-718-7080.

Follow me on Twitter:: http://www.twitter.com/gahooletree

Portfolio:: www.oraclegemdesigns.com
Other Jewelry Blog:: www.sassydlite.blogspot.com

Newsletter subscribe for deals and specials:: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1102955221933&p=oi
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Local area artisans are welcome to join the fun on "Durham Region Handmade Cafe on Ning" so here's a link: http://durhamregionhandmadecafe.ning.com/profile/AnnaLeeH!

my photobucket movie test

2010-03-19T01:42:00.001-04:00

this is a small test to grab a snippet of code for the homepage of http://www.oraclegemdesigns.com/. I finally found my ftp login and password! yay :)

Pink Opal Bohemian Chandeliers NEW!!!

2010-03-10T21:47:00.005-05:00

fashionable
these delightful creations can be customized with any gemstone combo you like!

Fantasia Borosilicate and Gem Necklace - Necklaces (medium) - by gahooletree - DaWanda

2010-03-08T08:55:00.001-05:00

Fantasia Borosilicate and Gem Necklace - Necklaces (medium) - by gahooletree - DaWanda

New Shop on DaWanda is now open

2010-03-07T01:13:00.000-05:00

Gahooletree was featured!

2010-03-05T18:32:00.000-05:00

My fans have just gotta check out this article where one of my VERY gold bracelets which was just featured :)

Thank you to Christina of the Akane Designs blog for showcasing Gahooletree as the best of Etsy Canada in her article "Favourites - Canada Gets Gold!":

Click HERE to read the full report.

Shop Gahooletree & Anna Lee Jewelry on DaWanda

2010-03-04T00:13:00.003-05:00

DaWanda offers a new outlet for Anna Lee Jewelry and the Gahooletree brand of artisan gemstone treasures. Each item is a one of a kind original. All pieces are designed and personally handcrafted by Anna Lee in her Toronto studio.

Our OWOH Winner!

2010-02-18T08:50:00.001-05:00

okay so the entries have been tallied and I'm a bit late with this... but our winner is:

Julia Dees of MoonCat Farms!

Her blog is here: http://mooncatfarms.blogspot.com/ and

... she also has an etsy shop here: http://mooncatfarms.etsy.com/.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I especially wish to thank all of my new followers for joining this blog network. As promised, I am now following your blogs too :)

Arabian Nights Gold Fill Necklace (My 2010 One World One Heart giveaway item)

2010-01-25T07:14:00.007-05:00

Here's our entry in the 2010 One World One Heart blog giveaway event. If you're the winner, Gahooletree Designs will send you this unique genuine gemstone creation. "Arabian Nights" is a 20 inch gold fill necklace featuring three beautiful dangling treasures: large faceted blue sapphire, cognac coloured chalcedony and a smokey quartz! PS On my sister blog (click HERE) I'm offering a SECOND beautiful giveaway too!

The One World One Heart (OWOH) event is designed to boost the efforts of bloggers as it encourages blog writers from across the globe to connect and get to know one another better. For more information click this image:

How to Enter: While you're here, please follow my blog (click the Follow icon to the right) and to enter the giveaway to receive this free item, just leave a comment on this blog post. Remember, if you're my winning entry I'll need to be able to contact you by email so please include a valid email address in your comment.

Getting Connected: If you're a fellow blogger, I'd love to hear from you so send comments or suggestions. Write me and I'll visit your blog too or simply feel free to write just to say hi.

How to Participate: Jump on the magic carpet and go for a quick spin! Visit this link: to find a complete list of 2010 OWOH participants (called Magic Carpet Ticket Holders). Each of the 2010 OWOH participants is currently offering at least one free giveaway item so enter as many of the giveaways as you like!!!

And if you're not already involved in this remarkable global project, please make yourself a note to join us next January for the 2011 fun!

Contest Closes: February 15th at midnight Eastern time. The winner will be announced here on February 16th, 2010.

Oracle Gem Designs at Two Booth Locations This Weekend

2009-12-09T15:37:00.000-05:00

Last minute shopping doesn't have to be a hassle. At Oracle Gem Designs we have something totally unique and tastefully created in all price ranges. Our handmade jewellery is popular year round but I've cooked up some amazing last minute deals for the savvy Christmas shopper:

This Saturday December 12th ALL Gahooletree genuine gemstone birthstone earrings on sterling silver earwires will be reduced by a remarkable 50%!

This Saturday we're also featuring a large selection of NEW SassyDLite pieces at savings up to 80% off retail.

AND here's the best news of all. This Saturday we're offering our unique handmade artisan jewellery at TWO locations within the GTA!

David will handle our booth at the R.H. McGregor Holiday Arts and Craft Sale, 555 Mortimer Avenue (Coxwell north of Danforth & adjacent to Toronto East General Hospital) from 10 am to 3pm;

AND once again this week I'll be at Beach United Church West, 2002 Queen Street East (between Woodbine and Lee) in the Beaches (10am to 4pm).

We've pulled together our best sellers, many crammed with quality features like sterling silver chains, genuine gemstone & swarovski crystal accents. Special holiday pricing is well below wholesale so get there early for the best selection. Hope to see you there!

Store Wide Sale - SAVE 30% !

2009-12-01T01:41:00.001-05:00

Take advantage of storewide savings at Gahooletree.

Everything 30% off!

Our very first SALE

Pricing valid Till midnight December 3rd, 2009.

Show Schedule

2009-11-18T02:01:00.000-05:00

Find out what Oracle Gem Designs handmade jewelry is all about. We're planning to exhibit new work this holiday season at these upcoming Toronto area shows:

Sat.Nov. 21: Orchard Villa Christmas Bazaar, 1955 Valley Farm Road, Pickering, ON, L1V1X6 10-4pm Free Admission
Sat.Nov. 28: Brooks Road P.S. Christmas Craft Sale, Brooks P.S., 85 Keeler Boulevard, West Hill, M1E4K6 10-2pm Free Admission
Sat.Dec. 5: Not Your Granny's Craft Sale & 21st Annual Christmas Artists' Market @ Beach United Church West, 2002 Queen Street East Toronto 11-4pm Free Admission
Sat.Dec. 12: R.H. McGregor Holiday Art & Craft Sale, R.H. McGregor P.S. 555 Mortimer Avenue East York/Toronto 10-3pm Free Admission
Sat.Dec. 19: Not Your Granny's Craft Sale & 21st Annual Christmas Artists' Market @ Beach United Church West, 2002 Queen Street East Toronto 11-4pm Free Admission

Drop by and say hi!

We've been extremely busy at the Ga'Hoole Tree! Our workshop has spun out hundreds of interesting new pieces all designed and created with holiday gift giving in mind. With this new collection there's something for everyone: Girls bracelets, earrings & necklaces, youths & unisex necklaces, mens vintage & gemstone collars and a large assortment of affordable womens pieces have been rapid sellers so far this season.

At our booth you'll find versions of our best sellers as well as a Sale Bin chock full of amazing values -- so shop early! And we've scoured the globe for the past year to find some incredible deals on materials so pricing is more affordable than ever before :) This is our most fashion forward collection and our best pricing ever!

Personal versus online shopping:

Free bonuses or other online promotions are not available when shopping in person.
At personal appearances/exhibits items currently available for sale in our online shops will NOT be on display! So if you are planning to attend one of my shows in order to examine a particular creation, kindly email me in advance and I'll bring along whatever you're interested in viewing.
Sometimes purchasing online via custom request is faster, easier and even cheaper. Drop me a line for a prompt quote.
To avoid the crowds and get your shopping done from home, just email me with your ideas. I can usually replicate any design within a day or so (both current and sold items if the materials are still available in our inventory). I'll reply with a prompt quote and your goodies can be on their way to you in no time.
Using our PayPal payment gateway a PayPal account is NOT required. You may bypass PayPal login. Payment with any major credit card is fast, easy and totally secure.
Buy with confidence because with us no sale is ever final! This means if you require an adjustment, repair, replacement, exchange or refund just contact me.

"Jewelry Business Key Success Factor - Teaming With Social Marketing Pals"

2009-10-30T11:55:00.001-04:00

Looking to take your online shop(s) to the next level? At eSMArts a key success factor for many of us has been learning how to properly apply Social Marketing concepts within our unique team concept.

Looking to share your marketing skills with like minded souls? Well, we've been building our repertoire of social networking skills and the results are vibrant and prosperous online shops... but we're looking for a few more good people :)

Join our social marketing group for artists!!! eSMArts (originally meant Etsy Social Marketing Artisans) sends you an open invitation to take part in a unique networking and creative process.

We are a global collaborative of mixed media artisans who discuss social networking principles and how to apply them in our online indie shops. A major goal for our group is cross promoting our team mates, but we've also formed good friendships in the process and we even have a hoot of a good time every now and then too!

Contrary to the name, social marketing does not mean 'socializing', so our group is not about chit chat. Social marketing involves building online relationships and endorsing those within a reference group. These activities are FREE but they involve elbow grease and a small but regular time commitment.

Using our main discussion forum (based in Yahoo Groups finance section) we've crossed boundaries of selling platforms and global constraints. We've recently opened a second chapter called "Social Marketing Artisans/eSMArts on ArtFire" and many of our members now have established shops on other emerging sales venues as well.

Our group mandate: To foster friendship, creativity, connection, inspiration, discussion and plenty of cross promotion via implementing social marketing principles in order to drive traffic to our storefronts/online shops.

If you think that partnering with us (we're mainly jewelry artisans) to learn more about the use of blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social marketing (or social networking) venues is right for you, then what are you waiting for? Please email or use the link provided and join us!

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/eSMArts/

Turkey Day Follow Up

2009-10-18T17:30:00.000-04:00

This year David prepared our Thanksgiving meal! whoo hoo! and as I mentioned earlier we had opted to roast commercially prepared turkey breasts in lieu of a complete stuffed turkey. This is a whole new territory for me - totally uncharted waters!

I can count on the fingers of one hand the times when we did NOT roast a fully stuffed turkey bird for Thanksgiving over the past 30 years. I suppose Thanksgiving is the one western festival that we celebrate religiously! LOL David and I openly admit being hedonistic AND food motivated!

So I purchased two frozen turkey meats, a stuffed breast by Maple Leaf (below right) and the light and dark meat Butterball offering (below left and the package is pictured at the bottom of this article). Both of these cuts are easy and straight forward to prepare ~ you just pop 'em in the oven!

Neither offering produces much in the way of pan juices, so if you're thinking of choosing these convenient cuts plan on canned gravy or my favourite is the powdered Bisto gravy maker that turns boiled carrot water and 1 tsp of butter into a delicious gravy. We just love that stuff!

The stuffed Maple Leaf offering (approx. $15 CAD) turned out to be formed around the breast bone and it contained way more bones, fat and waste than we expected. The included prepared stuffing was not to my liking at all and I wouldn't purchase this product again.

The Butterball (above left) was totally boneless with zero waste so at roughtly $21 CAD it proved to be the best value overall. If we absolutely must work with a convenience cut in the future, we would seriously consider a totally boneless choice such as the Butterball offering.

Lots of folks simply won't eat homemade stuffing that has been roasted inside the turkey carcass... and if your family is the same, bake lots of of homemade stuffing in a covered buttered baking dish or there's always the stove top brands of commercially prepared stuffing mixes... they're fast and rather tasty especially given the fact that they require only a few minutes to toss together.

David whipped us up stovetop stuffing, canned gravy, roasted sweet potatoes, prepared mashed potatoes, and a ton of nutritious and delicious steamed vegetables, canned jellied cranberries and finally warmed purchased pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream .

The feast was fabulous and if you're in a hurry consider a convenience cut of frozen turkey breast... but to be honest nothing can compare in taste, texture and presentation with a fully stuffed roast bird.

ISIS Handmade Set - Apatite and Hessonite Garnet on 14k Gold Fill

2009-10-15T14:21:00.000-04:00

Water and Sun inspired and perfect for your cruise, these unique one of a kind pieces are currently available for immediate shipping!

Visit http://gahooletree.etsy.com/ for more of my special gemstone creations.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-10-11T13:59:00.000-04:00

Harvest is my favourite time of the year. Warm sunny days with cool, crisp nights, colourful leaves, and an abundance of health giving and tasty produce. It's really no wonder then that we choose beautiful autumn to pause & celebrate with loved ones, to take stock of our blessings and appropriately, to give thanks.

Today our daughter came home to share in the traditional harvest feast. This year we've opted for boneless turkey roasts in lieu of the full roasted stuffed bird. More on that to follow.

I've never viewed Thanksgiving as being a particularly religious event. To me Thanksgiving is an opportunity to meditate and reflect while enjoying, savouring & appreciating earth's bounty. By so doing I somehow feel at one with and in harmony with the universe.

Above: my hand cross stitch from 2006. This is a free pattern that I found online and amended. Some day I'll get it professionally framed.

Albeit primitive, all civilizations and cultures have celebrated earth's gifts in one way or another. I suggest that humans are inextricably linked to Mother Earth and her cycles - that we're organically and spiritually a part of this beautiful orb and without Earth we won't survive...

Do something today to invest in the future of the planet.

Madeleine Pink Sapphire and 14k Gold Fill by GaHooleTree on Etsy

2009-10-05T13:14:00.000-04:00

Madeleine Pink Sapphire and 14k Gold Fill by GaHooleTree on Etsy

A new listing.
Pricing of $89 reflects a premium for pink sapphire.
Pricing also includes FREE SHIPPING to Canada and continental USA.
This item is also available in sterling.
This style is available in other genuine gemstones including: sky blue topaz, yellow topaz, london blue topaz, ruby, blue sapphire, amethyst, peridot, pink tourmaline, green tourmaline, citrine, pearl, carnelian, clear crystal quartz, rose quartz, garnet, aquamarine, moonstone, emerald, white topaz, jade, turquoise and more. Please email for availability and firm pricing on other gemstone/birthstone beads. [email tiger_eye at rogers dot com] for a prompt firm quote.
Please allow 2 days for custom creations.

Posted using ShareThis

CheapTweet - ON SALE!!! Check them out!! eSMArts Team Rocks - Twitter Deals, Coupons, Bargains, Sales and Discounts

2009-10-05T09:37:00.001-04:00

CheapTweet - ON SALE!!! Check them out!! eSMArts Team Rocks - Twitter Deals, Coupons, Bargains, Sales and Discounts

Posted using ShareThis

Our Travels to "The Rock"

2009-07-06T11:35:00.011-04:00

These pictures were taken a few days ago inside Gros Morne National Park on the western shore of Newfoundland. The geological makeup of this area is at times other worldly.

'The Rock' is an incredibly beautiful but rugged place. I'm amazed by how unfamiliar the rock formations here actually are. Here's a view of the exposed mantle which is so prevalent in The Tablelands area of Gros Morne park.

The orange rocks contain a black mineral called peridosite that apparently is known to exist only in the earth’s mantle or crust. But we have learned that many minerals can be found in Newfoundland. Virginite is available on the Baie Verte Penninsula.

Yesterday I found an outcropping of this gorgeous green mineral along the sides of the TransCanada Highway. It might be serpentine but at this point I'm really not sure. It could also be Canadian Jade, or perhaps just more unakite.

Along the ocean I've found pretty unakite and red jasper specimens and marble and marble-like deposits are common. But I've been most intrigued by the lava, silica, grabbo, anorthocite, chert, granite etc. that is so unique and plentiful here. If you look closely you'll notice that these striated boulders along Newfoundland's west coast display molten rock patterns:

I've yet to find any labradorite in its natural state. I'm told that native labradorite deposits near Nain on the northern Labrador mainland yield high grade specimens, but I'm not going there (well not on this trip anyway!).

But artisans and galleries of handmade art are everywhere. We're seeing tons of labradorite jewelry for sale too but I question how much of these gems were sourced in Canada. A few renowned inuit stone carvers in the Nain area have shipped their work here for retail sales at the gallery level.

Some Newfoundland galleries and jewelers do import small quantities of labradorite from Nain, Labrador for use in jewelry and carving but these instances are rare and the finished artwork is of gallery quality and price (not the commonly priced labradorite so plentiful and on display at all souvenir outlets).

There's a soapstone outcropping/mine up on the northern tip of the Baie Verte penninsula (Fleur de Lys) so hopefully we'll head that way tomorrow. The soapstone mine is now operated by the provincial and federal governments as a heritage site and apparently no hammering is allowed. We'll see :)

NEW in our eSMArts Team Shop

2009-06-25T17:24:00.010-04:00

Please support our eSMArts Team Shop! This online store is a volunteer effort... Proceeds from your purchase will support a very worthy cause.

eSMArts stands for etsy Social Marketing Artisans. We're a global team of mixed media artisan designers who meet online to pool resources, share & inspire and discuss social networking techniques. Our team shop is located on etsy, a worldwide showcase of fine handmade art, crafts and related items.

This is my latest contribution to our eSMArts team shop. I designed the "Leila Necklace" using wonderful gem quality iolite and 14k gold fill. This dainty neck wrap measures 17 inches in total length.

ALL shop proceeds really are being donated to a very worthy cause. We really need your support too. Please consider making a purchase to help us out.

Like the style of one of our featured artists but don't see exactly what you need? Then please convo for info and we'll get a custom listing or commissioned piece under way per your specs and price range. Oh and again, proceeds from your purchase will still be donated to our cause!

BUY HANDMADE

Support an independant artisan

Handmade really IS better

Lake Ontario Beach Glass

2009-06-23T03:47:00.012-04:00

My friend Diane in Rhode Island was right - there IS great beach glass along the shores of Lake Ontario... The other day Amy and I romped down to the Oshawa shoreline. We only had ten minutes to spend there but we managed to find seven nice beach glass samples in that short period of time!

I took a stab at wrapping this one. Now be nice! :) I'm not a fan of most wire wrapped cabochon styles so this isn't a wire technique that I claim experience with! LOL

But to best showcase the lovely transparency of beach glass a dainty wire setting seems quite appropriate.

And don't even ask why I used silver wire on the back side. Heaven knows what I was thinking. I've just gotta stop working in front of the TV!

I also had fun creating a soldered sterling collar around another beach glass specimen. That's a time consuming technique and takes more patience than I can muster.

As you can see, I cracked the glass! :( And as soon as that happened I called it a day... The finished product however remains near and dear to me (it was the first piece of Lake Ontario beach glass that I found on my quest) so I just might finish and wear this fugly for that reason alone. It's not the destination, it's the journey.

Thank You Lois & Al!

2009-05-21T20:45:00.006-04:00

It was great finally meeting Lois of ABeadedAffair last weekend. Lois and I have certainly done our fair share of chatting and exchanging emails, but nothing can replace the joy of connecting with somebody in person.

Lois and Al live in a picturesque burough of north east Philadelphia - the land of hoagies, philly steak sandwiches and hospitality! Time was a bit tight, but we managed to squeeze in some sightseeing, shopping and plenty of warm company. We'll be back to sample Al's meade in the near future.

David and I wish to thank Lois and Al for being such good hosts. Here we are enjoying Lois' famous prime rib dinner and all the fixins! It was nice that Wilma of Wilma's Whimseys and her son Ray from Minnesota were also able to join the party!

It was a perfectly enjoyable weekend. We didn't have as much time to discuss gemstones and jewelry as we would have liked, but then again, put a few beaders together and the banter could rattle on forever!

Support our Team Shop

2009-05-13T19:48:00.005-04:00

Please visit our eSMArts Team Store where all proceeds support worthy causes! There are textiles, fine art, jewelry and even hobby supplies currently available for secure online purchase.

We have many talented artists currently exhibiting their wares in our eSMArts Team Store so you're sure to find something unique, well crafted and handmade!

Note to eSMArts members: if you'd like a banner/badge like the one displayed here for use on your blogs etc., please email me with pics of your items that you've added to the Team Store. I'll customize a badge for you (free)!

Joella Miller - Always Wired Bead Lady!

2009-04-22T14:22:00.010-04:00

Joella Miller is the talented jewelry artist and designer behind AlwaysWiredBeadLady located in Brodhead, WI. Joella is also my friend and a valued member of our online Artisan family called eSMArts.

I met Joella a year ago and was immediately drawn in amazement toward her intricate chainmaille designs. Joella has mastered a vast array of artisan jewelry making techniques. Her lovely wire wrapping and chainmaille creations are crisp, modern and truly timeless. This artist enjoys custom work so contact Joella directly to have your unique design statement project started today.

Joella's handcrafted jewelry creations are pieces of lasting beauty that have received wide acclaim and recognition. Joella has recently been accepted to appear at WisCon 33's Art Show being held in Madison, WI May 23, 24 and 25. WisCon is a premier feminist SciFi convention that only accepts 40 artists in their popular Art Show!

Joella will also be appearing this summer (every Saturday morning) at the Dane County Farmer's Market. This premier farmer's market has a special section for arts and will run all summer long. So be sure to make a point of dropping by Joella's Always Wired Bead Lady booth this season!

There is more background information on this artist and a sneak peek into what's new at her studio on her blog: http://alwayswiredbeadlady.com.

Solid Copper Bracelet

2009-04-09T19:09:00.010-04:00

It appears Easter is already upon me and I intend to use this weekend to get caught up on a few outstanding projects for my cyber family. I've been working on this solid copper bracelet for my brother who I promised this to back in November. I hope he likes it.

I haven't worked off all of this item's handmade charm :) as you can tell from the pictures. This solid copper bracelet can still be polished quite a bit more. It could also be engraved or hand embellished and tooled with a variety of designs.

I had my local Metals Supermarket order in tiles of thick solid copper for this project and so far I'm pleased with the results. I don't usually work in copper for jewelry so this project has been very interesting.

But I'm quite glad to have gone through this process, as I know a few other guys who will want me to make something similar for them too!

until next time,
~Anna Lee

I was featured on the Jewelry Report

2009-04-03T22:46:00.003-04:00

The good news tonight is that my GahooleTree shop was totally reactivated after Etsy removed it by mistake a few days ago! hooray!!!

A really exciting thing that I couldn't report until tonight because my site had unexpectedly disappeared :( is that earlier this week one of my GahooleTree items was featured here at The Jewelry Report blog:
http://jewelryreport.com/2009/03/30/trend-watch-colored-stones-for-summer/

If you're a friend, teammate, fan, jewelry designer, artisan or reader, please take two minutes to visit this blog venue and post a brief comment there (comments don't have to relate to this feature or my jewelry either!). Thanks so much for your support and participation in the growing Jewelry Report
blog community...
hugs,
~Anna Lee H.

OWOH Winning Entry

2009-02-12T07:51:00.002-05:00

The 2009 One World One Heart blog participation event has at last come to an official close. I used a random number generator to pick from the 270 comments left here and the winner is:

Liisa from Sweden who maintains Ottilias Veranda blog. Liisa is #014 on the OWOH list! Check out Liisa's truly beautiful blog for more information about her life and passions.

I'll be contacting Liisa by email with this news later today!

Thank you so much to all who entered my giveaway.
Until next year....
hugs,
~Anna Lee H. in Toronto

Chain Fringe - What Goes Around Comes Around

2009-02-07T09:35:00.000-05:00

I'm always amazed how fashion trends move on an ebb and flow cycle, sometimes disppearing from popular culture for years or even decades before re-emerging in a brand "new" iteration. Well, apparently chain fringe is now 'in'. But this style of jewelry has been in existence for centuries.

My vintage inspired chandelier earrings are styled after a stunning pair of earrings I noticed the gorgeous Capucine sporting during her appearance in the classic John Wayne movie "North To Alaska" set circa 1850. Chain fringe was a common element in Parisian jewelry of that era. Chain fringe was also featured in Edwardian and Victorian jewelry styles.

I have wanted to create something featuring classic chain fringe for quite some time so I'm pleased with how this creation progressed. Similar fringed styles look wonderful in bright sterling silver but they adapt well to oxidizing and a variety of patinas too. And in gold tone the look is simply stunning.

[Inset: antique costume jewelry dress clip with gold toned chain fringe.]

The eye popping gemstones in my design are baby swiss blue topaz intricately faceted squares often called "dice" cuts. This particular commissioned item is sold, but if you are interested in a similar design please email with your ideas for a prompt free quote.
Until next time...
hugs,
~Anna Lee

My Jewelry Sites - Housecleaning

2009-02-03T07:26:00.009-05:00

I'm finally getting around to fixing up my main jewelry site Oracle Gem Designs where my links and contact pages were in desperate need of TLC.

Thanks Lois for including me on your recent blog feature: http://abeadedaffair.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-few-updates.html. Your ABeaded Affair widgetbox gadget is now on my links page too!

I've taken the liberty of including some of my eSMArts etsy street team friends on my links page too! That includes an rss widget I made up for CoastalArtist that's Van Stewart Bevil's arwork (Van I hope you don't mind) as well as widgets from CreationsbyJAE, MyGemstoneBox, and MomFuse. If you'd like your gadget added, please send me the script or email me for help in creating your own.

Gadgets are very easy and fun to make at www.widgetbox.com where it only takes a few minutes to create your own beautiful & transportable streaming banner advertisement! To whip up an easy blog ad, just type in the url of your blog! You can even create an ad using the rss feed from your etsy shoppe too! That's what I did for Van's artwork.

Widgetbox has developer guidelines concerning property rights, so it's best if each artist creates their OWN gadget for sharing with friends and contacts. But I took the liberty of creating one gadget and I'm not trying to portray this content in any fraudulent way, so I hope the author(s) involved understand my intent.

Through searching widgetbox's galleries, I just found an archived gadget for my friend Teri of S&T Creations so I'll be adding that to the links page here too. And I encourage anyone reading this to explore Widgetbox's FREE online ad generating tool. It truly is a godsend for site and blog developers.

Switching gears for one moment, I'm working on a mirror site for
Oracle Gem Designs - it's a free webs offering at http://www.oraclegems.webs.com where I can engage in viral ad campaigns.

I'm also going to be hard at work over the next few weeks cleaning up my SassyDLite site http://www.sassydlite.com and another old domain www.oracle-gems.com. I hate housecleaning of any kind!
hugs,
~Anna Lee

One World One Heart Blog Giveaway Contest

2009-02-03T07:06:00.007-05:00

The 2009 One World One Heart blog giveaway event is a chance for bloggers from all over the world to meet, mix, and mingle. It also gives us the opportunity to win prizes from each other!!! If you love prizes, and would like to be entered in my giveaway please leave a comment here!

Very last minute (oh if I could only clone myself) I've decided to offer these unique handmade earrings as the Gahooletree entry in the 2009 One World One Heart blogging event. Next year, I promise I'll be ready for this event with amazing entries.

I'm also offering a different giveaway item on my other jewelry blog, so visit SassyDlite blog http://sassydlite.blogspot.com/ to enter that contest too!

To be entered into the giveaway for these earrings, leave me a comment, being sure to give me a link to your blog or your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you're my winner! You have until Thursday, February 12th at 11:59 CST to leave a comment here with the requested info in order to enter the drawing. I will then use a random number generator to choose the winner!

My Gahooletree entry for One World One Heart 2009 is this pretty pair of 14K gold fill dangle earrings with gem grade faceted prasiolite (green amethyst), gemmy rose quartz marquis cuts and garnet. They measure 1 1/2 inches in length and the earwires are handforged 14k gold fill. Good luck and I look forward to meeting tons of new bloggers!
hugs,
~Anna Lee H. in Toronto

New Work - Springtime Imagery Study

2009-01-31T10:28:00.006-05:00

Handmade sterling silver chandelier earrings depict melting icicles as our hearts warm to thoughts of springtime, renewal and the splendour of budding florals. Let it thaw!

Designed in tribute to my warm hearted artisan street team friends who daily inspire me, keep me smiling and who always remind me that there are brighter days ahead.

This creation is my entry for the eSMArts January Design Challenge.

Each earring has an imperial topaz brio, two emeralds, fourteen pink sapphire rondelles, two amethyst trillions, a rose quartz marquis and one rhodolite garnet.

New at Gahooletree Supplies

2009-01-29T03:30:00.003-05:00

Is January Supposed to Be This Busy?

2009-01-22T01:24:00.010-05:00

We usually take vacation mid month to celebrate our weird winter wedding :) but this year I'm stuck here in the cold and snow of southern Ontario and I'm actually glad I am! Snow has been steadily piling up over the past two weeks, so we really have an old fashioned winter.

I've been babysitting one of my Giant Schnauzers, Max, who I haven't seen in over a year. Max is 12 years old now so not quite as nimble as he used to be. But Max and Amy had a great time together for 2 and half weeks romping in the snow, demanding to be let out every half hour and well simply making life insane around here! But I enjoyed it.

Steady sales at Gahooletree Supplies on etsy has also kept me hopping. We've had fun listing pandora beads, charms and chains as well as new luxe gemstone studio overstock and themed gemstone sampler collections & starter packs. We just got our first order for my handmade 26g ball end silver headpins too.

We just made our first sale on eCrater and will be developing a new shoppe on Artfire (details to follow).

Over the holidays we were pleased to see many shoppers at SassyDLite, our new boutique of affordable jewelry staples. It has worked out well developing this second etsy shoppe that features more rustic or everyday designs. And with SassyDLite I've had fun playing with semiprecious stones and non-precious wires.

And at Gahooletree, our flagship store, sales were soft over the holidays. But this is to be expected in light of the economic climate AND the luxe gemstone nature of this venue. But we managed to get a few luxe orders like our custom Family Necklace feature and we just sold one of our most expensive items, so there is hope!

eSMArts TeamShop Contest Today!!!

2009-01-09T06:18:00.006-05:00

Please support our eSMArts Team Shop today.

To be entered into our contest to win one of several $10 gift certificates good towards sales at http://esmarts.etsy.com

just visit our Team Blog and make a comment there mentioning our Gift Certificate Grab

between noon and midnight tonight!

Thanks to all of you who enter the contest to support us. All proceeds from eSMArts Team Shop sales support worthy causes!

Love Yourself Month

2009-01-06T20:17:00.003-05:00

Send this eCard

I honestly have never heard of "Love Yourself Month" until the other day when I read it on the monthly activities calendar sent out by my daughter's long term care facility.

So I googled it. January really is known as "Love Yourself Month" -- and it is a genuine reason to celebrate all that is good in YOU. This idea of taking a bit of time out of life's hectic mayhem to just pamper oneself is in keeping with one of my new year's resolutions. So I just thought I'd share this cute idea.

So are you a fan of Love Yourself Month? I'd love to hear your comments!

My New Free Store on ShopIt

2008-12-30T07:39:00.010-05:00

I just love economical ways to market my jewelry and supplies, so when I heard about the FREE ShopIt shopping cart I just had to check it out. ShopIt offers a fairly clean looking storefront with lots of backend features. And did I mention it is FREE?

I fought with this application, but finally managed to get my new ShopIt store looking somewhat presentable and the ShopIt widget is now installed on my FaceBook profile and my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/gahooletree

The coolest thing about the ShopIt venue is the ability to literally illuminate your profiles on Facebook and MySpace with your product gallery by installing the ShopIt widget in those places. So now contacts who look me up will literally be bombarded with pics and info about my jewelry! This is quite exciting because my former colleagues searching me out online have no idea that I create jewelry now.

At first I couldn't customize the ShopIt widget (which wouldn't even show up in my browser). But because this darn ShopIt application is still in beta mode I thought it was just a small bug until I finally figured out that I needed to update to Explorer 7 or Firefox. Voila! things are working fine now...

Of course you can always add an item manually - that's fairly straight forward and easy to do with ShopIt. But I wanted to figure out the batch uploads. It took me about an hour to develop a system for a mass product upload to ShopIt. There are likely many faster and more efficient methods but here's what I did.

Using the free google base formatter on http://www.letsets.com I did a batch download for my SassyDLite shop. Copy and paste that into excel. Create the mandatory headers (outlined in the ShopIt guide to batch uploads) and delete the pics. Fill in missing fields (quantity = 1 and Condition = N for new). Then i stole the pic urls from my etsy shop and pasted those urls into the spreadsheet in the ImageURL column. The pics are housed on one of etsy's many servers. Save this spreadsheet as a CSV file (comma saved value) and you're ready to upload.

Another reasonable storefront alternative is Artfire. I'll be joining that new community soon too. And the rates if you join right now are only $7/month for life with no listing fees, no transaction fees, no commissions, no other costs. Just $7 per month and this facility offers lots of features that sellers (like my team mates at eSMArts) will adore like unlimited product categories.

New ShopIt Widget

2008-12-25T00:10:00.007-05:00

I'm trying this new free shopping cart software from www.ShopIt.com that allows you to post a widget to social marketing venues like FaceBook and MySpace. Will let you know how it goes.

To get my etsy content added to this new venue I've experimented with using the www.Letsets.com GoogleBase formatter bulk download and converting it to a CSV file for bulk upload to ShopIt. This system takes some time to implement. It might be just as fast to input each item manually to ShopIt.

But this type of advertising on social marketing venues might just make sense because my widget on FaceBook is already receiving traffic. Check it out!

Till next time,
~Anna Lee

Little Christmas Bazaar

2008-12-04T11:38:00.008-05:00

We'll be doing lots of jewelry showings in 2009 and hopefully I'll be able to keep everyone informed of these events well in advance. But here's a few tidbits about the little Christmas Bazaar that was held November 29th at Thorntonview Residence here in Oshawa.

My jewelry table was located beside the Tea Room in the Corbett wing where Kate lives. Although totally isolated from the other vendors, this location did prove to be advantageous. The atmosphere was more quiet, tranquil and intimate in this area, where coffee, tea and christmas cakes were being served.

I'm glad we attended this venue which served as a good trial run and gave me a chance to see how my new display items will work.

In early 2008 I bought countertop displays, a sample case and other display items from Rio Grande but I hadn't had a chance to use them. In the top photo black vinyl stackable trays from my rolling sample case (Rio Grande no. 400-468 $18) are used as countertop containers. I lined my sample trays with black velvet easel back display pads that are a breeze to set up and dismantle. If there were more room, more easel back displays could be stood up freeing up the trays to hold keychains, bookmarks, zipper pulls etc.

For earrings we used a rotating hanging card display on the left and a clear plexiglass lockable countertop display case on the right. I'm currently using generic plastic earring cards (Rio Grande 405-557/14) that I personalize using a label maker.

This setup is by no means artistic, but it's functional and easy to transport. The rotating displays get moved in unfinished wooden crates from Michael's. Two crates will hold the halogen desk lamp, both display stands, table cloth, and all non displayed inventory, tools, promotional items etc.

As y'all know, I love visuals and here's the Fall/Winter 2008 Brochure personalized for this particular event. I print one on matte photo stock and copy what I need. In this case I only took about 30 of these. David handed them out in the 'real' bazaar area. If it was a bigger event, I would take this to Staples for copying.

We displayed a variety of items at varying price points - from five dollar earrings & SassyDLite casual items to formal luxe gemstone items from Gahooletree. I was surprised that none of the newly created items sold. Go figure! At Staples we couldn't find the little coloured dot stickers to colour code items by price, but we made due as best we could.

A big hit was actually a last minute addition. Practically on the way out the door I grabbed a handful of 925 Italian sterling silver snake chain necklaces with sterling silver gemstone pendants attached (from Mexico) that sold out. Obviously these aren't truly handmade by my definition but they looked impressive once I finally polished them up and spread them around the table.

We donated a door prize/raffle item that I forgot to photograph :) It was a gift wrapped gemstone treasures necklace. I included a formal typed item description with overview of my jewelry and mini bio - a promotional flyer specific to that one donated piece as info for the winning recipient.

We picked up a few custom orders and overall it was a great day as I got to sit and sip coffee with Kate (who had a blast interacting with the customers). I'm pleased with this venue and we'll likely be there again next year. In fact I just met with my publicist on Monday to begin setting up our 2009 events calendar. Until next time...

~Anna Lee

Fun Angel Earrings

2008-11-21T02:35:00.008-05:00

It was a cold & snowy day here at the Ga'Hoole Tree but Angel Fun warmed our hearts. Wings are near and dear to our feathered hearts and today these darling earrings and pendants have put us in the Christmas spirit! Some of these cuties will be listed tomorrow on our sister site SassyDLite.

Available in a variety of shades and combos (~yes we busy owls will whip them up for you in practically any genuine gemstone too!) these pretty accessories are sure to please someone on your gift list.

But be sure to get them and give them soon because all earthly angels love to show their wings prior to December 24th ~ year round in fact!

Until next time....
~Anna Lee

Studio Overstock - Emeralds

2008-10-28T22:25:00.012-04:00

In the above picture we're introducing four different types and grades of emeralds. From left to right they are: Brazilian, Zambian, Colombian Light and Colombian Dark

Our Brazilian Emerald faceted plump rondelles (shown below in the foreground) are opaque with a uniform bright festive green color. Size on this lot is very big, ranging from 6-8mm in diameter. These are microfaceted Israel cut beads with plenty of sparkle. I'm offering a mixture (approximately 14 inches) of loose beads weighing 150 ctw.USD $75.00 plus S&H

Our deep Zambian emeralds (the deepest green shown second from the left) are a rich deep forest green, but transparent and virtually eye clean! These beautiful beads look great with almost anything. Here we are offering 12 inch strand weighing 76.00 ctw. They range in diameter from 4.5 to 6.7mm.USD $114.00 plus S&H

Our finest colombian emerald faceted rondelles are the traditional perfect emerald green color. This is a perfectly sorted and graduated 20 inch strand ranging in size from 3.0 to 6.6mm in diameter and weighing 58 ctw. This is premium AAA stock with very few inclusions. There are enough beads on this one long strand to complete many projects. USD $406.00 plus S&H

It's a bit difficult to discern from our pictures, but our Dark Colombian Emeralds (far right) are just a trace darker than optimum AAA. Still these beads are relatively eye clean (for emeralds) with few inclusions, their facets are precise and the graduation is superb. We're offering a 19 inch strand weighing approximately 50 ctw. The beads range from 2.4mm to 6mm in diameter.USD $250.00 plus S&H

We currently have dozens of other gemstones available for sale online. If you are looking for something in particular, drop me a line.

Thanks for looking!
Until next time,
~Anna Lee

2008-10-18T04:06:00.000-04:00

added newest member stores and blog urls to team blog: http://ping.fm/jQ1Qm

etsy listings feed to Google Base

2008-10-18T04:03:00.001-04:00

I managed to successfully upload my listings for all three of my etsy stores into Google Base tonight. There's a very informative thread in etsy Forums:

http://ping.fm/aW4ME

Just follow their step by step instructions. They have an entire blog about it:
http://ping.fm/Nf3BC

Use the www.letset.com google base formatter and download your bulk feed XML file.

You'll need a google login, but beyond that registering your feed file with google base and uploading the file aren't difficult or time consuming at all. If you get a "failed" message, read the info listed beside the error for hints and tips and try to correct the problem, before uploading again.

But if you've set up your Google Base account properly, this system works well. Remember to renew these items each month as they will expire in 31 days!

Hopefully now I'll be able to find my listings in http://www.oodle.com!!!

2008-10-15T15:28:00.001-04:00

adding photos to flickr

Make Your Own Fine Gauge Headpins

2008-09-26T18:08:00.008-04:00

Thanks to my cyber Sis and fellow eSMArts member Carlotta (of CarlottaP on etsy) who straightened me out on the fundamentals of creating my own sterling silver ball end head pins. Shown above is my first batch created using 26 gauge wire.

Now handmade 26 gauge sterling silver ball end headpins may not sound exciting, but the smallest diameter headpins usually offered for sale at the largest and most abundantly stocked gem shows is 24 gauge. So in order to work with the majority of the faceted precious gemstone beads (sapphire, emerald and ruby) you either need to fabricate your own 26g or 28g headpins or find a great source.Purchasing these little darlings can get expensive.

I've lately been scouring the jewelry making world to even find them. There are a few sources to purchase these handmade findings on etsy, but most of those vendors don't offer a reliable year round supply, offering just overstock or small handmade lots on an ad hoc basis.

But forget about buying them. If you have a small torch (you can even use your gas range stovetop like I did) these are extremely easy (and fun) to make! On my first try (batch on the left) the ball ends were perhaps a bit smaller than I'd like. So in the remainder of this lot I made the ends more plump.

These headpins range from 3/4 to 1 3/4 inches in length. I find the 3/4 inch length is perfect for tiny gem clusters but in future, I'll make them in 28 gauge as well with varying lengths and the larger heads.

On getting settled, emptynesters & downsizing

2008-09-18T00:47:00.018-04:00

My life has been in total disarray for at least a month now, but we're beginning to feel slightly settled in to our new home. This move meant even more downsizing, so we still haven't found places for all our "stuff"! But at least we've recognized that we can't keep everything and we're slowing working on fixing the problem.

We sorted through our mountains of belongings and I actually agreed to part with some things. At our last house we threw away and put out at the curb tons of things - all of my handpainted birdhouses, the older handmade decorated birdfeeders, older garden tools and plenty of decorated terracotta pots - that sort of stuff disappeared quickly.

I've culled 10 boxes of household and kitchen items that we keep telling ourselves we'll try to sell at a garage sale. We've been saying that for three years and still haven't made firm plans to follow through with it. If it isn't raining on weekends, we're too busy.

There's a local reduce, reuse, recycle site that sprung up recently where you can post things that you'd like to give away. Maybe I'll give that a try. And we've yet to go through the clothing. There must be boxes of things we could take to Goodwill.

One problem I'm having is emotional attachment with all of my daughter's things. Kate is now comfy and cozy in her private room at one of Durham Region's finest long term care facilities. It's been a long rough go for Kate, but after a 2 year wait and some mighty cramped lodgings, she finally was granted a spot in ThorntonView's brand new young people's wing and I must say, that she's never been happier!

We're just delighted that Kate now has this wonderful handicap accessible spot that's all nicely decorated with her familiar things and some of my artsy favorites. But even there, we're quickly running out of room. Since the below pic was taken, we've installed CD racks, shelves for Kate's video archive, and more memorabilia...

I just found five more boxes of Kate's stuffed toys and games in the basement - these items have such significance for me that I can hardly force myself to part with them. But we must sell or give away the majority and take a few over to Kate's residence [due to her disabilities and high needs, Kate likely won't spend another night under our roof and we aren't setting up a formal bedroom for her here].

We also need to sell her adjustable bed, transfer pole, three walkers, one barely used motorized scooter, a $12K electric wheelchair (like new), two transfer wheelchairs, etc. and all her clothes that no longer fit. Right now, all these items and more are in the garage!

Adapting to our emptynester status will take some time and effort. We've been in the throws of this grieving process for a few years now, and with counselling and the right meds, we're managing to get on with life. So yes it's slowly getting easier to confront and accept, but we still have a way to go.

Back to the move... I'm still finding boxes of things that were put into storage when we sold the big house three years ago - things like partylight decorative candle displays. Someone should have stopped me when I had that addiction. These kinds of items (that I now have absolutely no room for) aren't exactly junk either. They're expensive collectables, all of which should be photographed and listed for sale on eBay. But who has time for that? Geez, I barely have time to pee.

I Love Glass

2008-07-30T01:22:00.019-04:00

After a two day introduction to lampworking I’m convinced that glass is the medium for me. Plans are underway to install a glass studio. Well, the plans are being constructed in my mind. I’m still wrestling with a few minor details. Where will I get an extra $1000 for a good kiln? How will I install decent ventilation? And should I leap right into borosilicates? Other than working out a few details, my mind is made up. :)

I’ve had a fascination with glass all my life. I remember mom taking me to a glass blowing studio, and because I was tiny and fearless I was yelled at about staying away from the furnace. But I was so fascinated with the molten glass and what the glass blower could accomplish.

As I grew, I developed an appreciation for mom’s millefiori paperweight collection. Later I fell in love with LaLique, blown glass figurines and even swarovski. I like crystals too (both natural and synthetic) and one of the first things I purchased when I returned to jewelry making after a 30 year hiatus was showy high quality glass beads.

In retrospect, it's no wonder that I have a glass collection of my own: paperweights, figurines, unique fobs and focals - mostly items either I chose while vacationing or little pretties gifted to me from David. He's such a dearheart to me. In fact, in my jewelry chest I have an assortment of eclectic pieces (my designs and purchased) which incorporate glass with all other media.

Recently I’ve fallen in love with boro beads – those wonderfully complex and colourful hard glass creations that have become so popular of late. I’ve purchased borosilicate beads from several renowned artists – and these pretties look fabulous when mixed with precious gemstones. Above is featured a set of borosilicate beads made by Jacquelyn Rice of C.N.Y Glass studio of Boonsville, NY.

I incorporated Jacquelyn's pretties (which remind me of an intergallactic monsoon) into the luxe gemstone bracelet shown here which I designed for myself. These photographs underline the many faces of boro beads - their dramatic and intense hues as highlighted in the opening picture and their more subtle faces in varying lighting - as seen below combined with Swiss Blue Topaz faceted nuggets, Lemon Topaz, Citrine, Smokey Topaz and plenty of silver.

This post will be the first in an ongoing series of articles exploring my quest to design borosilicate bead ornaments which will complement and enhance my gemstone creations. I'll discuss my boro bead buying experiences, my favourite boro artists, available online storefronts, informational resources, borosilicate bead making courses, lampwork bead making, lampworking courses, lampwork versus boro, etc. Stay tuned... there's lots more to come!

a new slideshow

2008-07-18T03:17:00.013-04:00

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Watching this I realize just how much effort and time I've invested in honing my craft this past ten months. Wow, even I'm thinking "what a weird mixture of styles, materials and techniques!". Yet it was time well spent. And each session once I gather my thoughts to develop something "new" and fresh it appears I learn something new and fresh as well.

In fact, when it comes to creative motivation, I admit rather shamefully that what gets me back to the bench is without a doubt the opportunity to either work with something brand new or to work in a brand new way - with a new technique.

I call this curse a penchant for self actualization. I'm like this with many things - never satisfied with what's been done, always looking to better it. With artisan handmade jewellery this curse has significant consequences. I now have a studio overflowing with materials I no longer appreciate and cases of unsold jewelry that in hindsight I'm not crazy about.

One thing is certain - I read way too many jewelry related publications. And wonderful though these reference materials may be, and yes, from them the inspiration just floods in upon me in waves, my efforts are scattered. The broad collection of goodies showcased in this slideshow underscore my point that I'm still finding my way. And like my own tastes in jewelry, my designs are all over the map. But how does one carve her own path?

With the exception of a small handful of visionaries, there's always a hint of replica in what artists produce and my jewellery is no exception. But I'd like to think that my pieces are drizzled with a unique flavour that's purely 'Anna Lee'. Hopefully through plenty more practice, more honing my craft, more education, more interaction within the artistic community etc. I'll find my calling.

But when my own 'style' emerges there'll most likely be two moons in the sky. And on that day perhaps just maybe I'll know what I want to be when I grow up.

The Power of Flickr

2008-07-16T01:58:00.005-04:00

If you follow my SassyDLite blog, you know that I took time a few days ago to dabble with a YouTube montage of my Spring 2008 collection. I had just finished posting on our group forum that I had no time to delve into the intricacies of YouTube, when I decided to hit the One True Media link that Elayne from ChezChani boutique had featured.

Well, I honestly didn't intend to play with a montage the other day, but for techno geeks these little toys are irresistable. Within minutes, literally, my montage was ready. You see, I already had an old Flickr account loaded with lots of fairly good pics from the Fall'07 and Spring '08 collections. OneTrueMedia allows you to access your Flickr albums with one click et voila, loads of stills to add to a personalized slideshow or montage (again with one click). I actually spent more time pouring through OneTrueMedia's online library of music than I did making the montage.

What's all the buzz about Flickr anyhow? Well, Flickr is an online picture storage facility that allows you to upload and store in collections and sets all the photos you could ever want to share online.

Once your pics are uploaded, you can share with family or friends, blog about them (one click), send them to groups (free online promotion) , organize them into relevant collections, etc. and of course you always have convenient access to your photos for adding them to sites, blogs or email even when you're not at your desk.

But Flickr is much more than an online photo storage facility. Flickr is compatible with and feeds into several critical online promotion venues like Blogger, Squidoo and HubPages for example. So a Flickr album is the starting point of a sound social marketing effort. We'll discuss these advanced promo venues later...

Getting back to Flickr - I joined roughly a dozen or so Flickr groups. These aren't groups that I socialize or chat with much. They're groups of photos for viewing:

I Made it Myself (10,404 members)
NEW CRAFT (4,714 members)
NEW Etsy.com love (6,460 members)
NEW Handmade Jewelry (2,867 members)
NEW Etsy - Look and Learn (3,522 members)
NEW indie designers ::: (975 members)
NEW Etsy Artists Rule: 1 Million Picture Pool (1,415 members)
NEW Metalicious (353 members)
etsyBEAD (207 members)
Jewelry, Ornaments & Textiles (3,358 members)
Buyhandmade.org (462 members)
Beautiful Copper (191 members)
Etsy Supplies (525 members)
Earrings (1,122 members)
Art You Wear (319 members)

But each group will accept your membership request and they all have discussion threads where we can promote ourselves and eSMArts!

And to promote handmade art via etsy it is recommended that photos of new work be uploaded to Flickr on a regular basis (daily if you can). I don't have time for daily uploads to Flickr. If I had an assistant that might be possible, but right now I'm solo.

So when I remember to do it, I try to upload a few pictures of my nicer work to my Flickr album. Then I just copy the pics to a few jewelry, handmade, etsy or craft photo pools. The big photo pools have limits like 2 pics per day, but the important thing here is to develop your own routine, your personalized online promotion checklist.

I found it useful to keep a chart of all my login IDs and passwords hanging above my computer screen. I've organized these venues in the order that I usually attack them in.

Everyone agrees that great pictures really help in the online selling of handmade artwork, so strive to steadily improve this facet of your online presence. Each week, I try new photo techniques, better backgrounds, different angles, lighting & surfaces, etc.

I heard about Flickr through reading etsy discussion threads. I learned about the Flickr jewelry and craft photo pools again from the etsy forums. And you know what? Practically all the jewelry for which I uploaded images to Flickr last fall has sold. I don't think this is a coincidence. Someone asked me the other day what online promotion technique works best for me, and I should likely have said Flickr!

Flickr group photo pool for eSMArts team

2008-07-10T16:06:00.004-04:00

Just a very brief post today about our new Flickr group photo pool for the etsy Social Marketing Artisan team.

Pop over to Flickr to view the gallery of unique handmade artwork from our talented group of artisans.

Member note: please feel free to upload your best pics to this group pool but remember the limit is only 5 pics per day.

Talented team of artisans

2008-06-20T17:16:00.009-04:00

Today I'm quick blogging directly from Flickr. This lovely piece was designed by Dani Garcia of http://www.dgdesignstx.etsy.com/. Dani creates pretty jewelry adornments borrowing from cross cultural themes and melding an eclectic variety of media. I'm particularly drawn to her copper creations!

Like all the members of our team, Dani is a talented, hard working, self representing emerging artist. She hales from Texas but her online boutique at DGDesignsTx.etsy.com is always accessible.

For an informative peek into what's currently going on within the design studio at DGDesigns, follow Dani's online journal DGDesignsTx.blogspot.com or feel free to contact her for a custom creation. You won't be disappointed.

For more of our designs visit our gallery.

Silvolf Enchanted Creatures

2008-06-13T01:22:00.011-04:00

Lara of Silvolf is a talented multi media artist from the UK who combines a love for all things enchanted with her flair for animation to produce a wide array of beautiful handmade artwork.

For the dragon lovers in my life I would purchase Violet, this beautiful polymer clay fire breather. Measuring 3"x1.5" Violet will be the perfect focal adornment for your next amethyst neck wrap. Perhaps Violet should become a favorite brooch or similar jewellery adornment or she could simply be gifted as a decorative statue.

Cute collectable figures like Nicoli the Nyffler, a combination between a guinea pig and hedgehog, are also worth checking out. And as soon as Lara adds an Airedale Terrier to her gorgeous lineup of Polymur Pupz, I'll definitely join her growing list of customers!

Lara is also adept at needle felt arts so check out her wonderful little felted creatures.

Visit Lara's new online boutique called Silvolf on Etsy at http://silvolf.etsy.com/ or for more information on this talented artist please visit http://www.silvolfstudios.co.uk/.

Julia Bristow Jewelry: Ga'Hooletree Designs#links

2008-05-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

My friend Julia Bristow took the time to mention the Sun and Waves Bracelet today! Julia Bristow Jewelry: Ga'Hooletree Designs#links Thanks so much again Julia for your support. Hugs, -Anna Lee H. in Toronto

Looking for Etsians for New Street Team

2008-05-20T15:41:00.006-04:00

Okay, I took the plunge and decided to start and head up a new street team on etsy. It's no secret that I've turned into an Etsy geek and I'm looking for like minded souls interested in friendship, connection, inspiration, guidance and cross promotion, folks willing to discuss and implement all the basic principles of social networking in order to drive traffic to their storefronts and sales sites!

So far we have 30 members who have expressed interest in working together. On Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/) a 'Street Team' is just another name for a collaborative group working towards a common goal. I decided to form a group based on the Etsy storefront platform because Etsy is free to join and listing fees are currently only 20 cents per item. Through my etsy stores I've managed to sell almost 200 items since September 2007. If I can do it, anyone can.

I found it easy to work with the Etsy module for uploading my product pics and item descriptions. If you're a crafty person or designer with say 20 or more items ready to sell, you can quickly set up a professional looking storefront at http://www.etsy.com/. Email your interest if you're an Etsian not already involved in other street teams or comment on this Etsy thread.

GaHooleTree :: Elegance Opera Necklace - Citrine, Ametrine, Pearl and Silver

2008-05-08T03:54:00.001-04:00

Fabulous statement piece - 200 carats of genuine gemstone!!! This item is still available or contact us to get your custom designer gemstone jewelry project under way.

Family Necklace - Customized Mother's Day Gift Idea

2008-05-08T00:44:00.002-04:00

Family Necklace
Originally uploaded by cdnallie

Looking for that special Mother's Day gift item? Well nothing could be more personal than my take on the "Family" necklace. For each creation, I choose a birthstone to represent mom, dad and each of the children.

Shown here was Kathy's christmas present designed by her husband John. The large faceted blue sapphire and peridot represent mom and dad while the gem quality smaller blue sapphire briolette and red garnet marquis cut represent their son and daughter.

Of course, you choose the metal and finishing touches. This item featured loads of 24k vermeil (gold plated sterling silver) spacers and ornate goodies, but there are tons of more simplistic ways to complete the look.

Send me a quick email to get your family necklace project started. You may have missed out on Mother's Day for 2008, but this type of thoughtful gift is welcomed by moms at any time of year. Take my word for it!

I Carry a Torch For You Blue Topaz Handmade Chandelier Earrings

2008-05-07T23:53:00.002-04:00

IMG_3531_edited-1
Originally uploaded by cdnallie

Well this is a totally new experience for me... I'm blogging directly from my Flickr account! This system might actually make things a ton easier for me. I'm finding the uploading of pics and posting the blog journals for my different blogs to be a bit time consuming. But using this feature, things will be easier. There's a way you can "grant access" to your blogger accounts from within Flickr. So when viewing this particular item for instance, you just click the icon labelled "Blog This". Easy peasy!!!

These scrumptuous faceted baby blue topaz flames hang gracefully by 14k gold fill chain below 24k vermeil (gold plated sterling silver) posts with genuine pearl accent. Ear nuts are 24k gold vermeil too. I imported these wonderful post earring components directly from Indonesia. These components were in the shipment I blogged about a few days ago! These blue topaz "flame" stones are a rare find. I have no more left so grab this creation while available.

This item is now available for sale in my Etsy store front or you can purchase this item directly from me. Shipping is free within continental Canada/USA too!

MyBlogLog

2008-05-07T22:55:00.001-04:00

I'm linkin to MyBlogLog Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Buy Groups for Sourcing Jewelry Design Materials

2008-05-07T21:28:00.007-04:00

This post will be of interest to fellow jewelry designers, beaders, crafters etc. or those interesting in becoming same. In an earlier post I began this topic and I'm pleased to announce that I took the plunge and placed my first 'group buy' order the other day. In this case the buy group involved is a rather close knit collective of artisan jewelry designers and membership must be approved by the group owner or moderators. But once you're approved and are issued a membership ID, you gain access to the group's purchasing power meaning when current 'buys' go live, you can save 50% or in some cases acquire materials below wholesale.

My first group purchase was for jewelry wire and included a few troy ounces of argentium wire, a few troy ounces of sterling silver wire, some bronze wire, and brass wire. The pricing is the best I've seen recently and well below that offered at the main stream outlets. The only downside inherent in the group buy process is the fulfillment horizon. I won't receive my order for likely 7-10 weeks. This is because the buy remains open for one more week, then the buy hostess needs time to collate and submit the order, the wire supplier needs two weeks to process this large volume transaction, items will then be shipped to the buy hostess who finally sets about sorting and shipping to each individual participant.

The group purchase form of acquisition may not be for every one. In fact, in my own jewelry design business I can't always participate in this type of purchase scheme as sometimes I'm in immediate need of materials. When I'm urgently in need of items it is necessary to deal with my existing suppliers, most of whom offer easy online ordering, same day shipping and expedited courier delivery.

Today for example I placed another individual order with an Indonesian supplier of handmade Bali sterling silver and 24k vermeil components. These exquisitely handcrafted Bali beads and findings are the ornate touches I like to incorporate in many of my styles like the Summer Breezes Bracelet shown above. And I've not found any domestic Canadian or USA sources that can even come close to the factory direct pricing. Believe it or not, on a $400 shipment I pay only $22 in S&H with no duties or other taxes.

If you are interested in participating in group purchasing for jewelry materials drop me a line and I'll send some info by email. Until next time...

More Luxe Gemstones

2008-04-29T16:24:00.007-04:00

Our move towards greater reliance on luxe gemstones is underway. The Ariana bracelet features 160 carats of genuine gemstones in an eye catching palatte appropriate for year round use. Truly a modern heirloom collectable, this bracelet is a very comfortable piece of wearable artwork. Ariana has spectacular topaz and ruby specimens in a cornucopia of gems including pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, orange sapphire, yellow topaz, london blue topaz, sky blue topaz, pink tourmaline and rose quartz.

One of the most diverse and interesting aspects of my jewelry work is my bridal hair accessory creations. The new Era Heirloom FloraVine Comb was a joy to design and create. This piece which incorporates cream, ivory, champagne and soft pink freshwater pearls is sold, but if you'd like me to create something similar, just drop me a note with your ideas to get things started. Your bridal hair accessories can be matched to your gown or dress or designed to coordinate with the bridal party, flowers, etc.

My sterling and vermeil findings order from Indonesia arrived last week, all neatly vacuum packed in a cute box with cello wrapping - immaculately packaged. My only concern is how FedEx left the package (still in its bonded wrapper) at my front door where anyone could have grabbed it. Other than that, I'm totally delighted with this first direct buy from Bali and I can't wait to start using some of these great components. The MiGem order is on its way too, so those stones will be a pleasure to work with.

On a pleasant note, today is Amy's first birthday. Amy is my sassy airedale. And one sure sign that perhaps Amy is starting to mature (just a wee bit) is the fact that today for the first time, Amy spent a few minutes alone outside in her fenced enclosure *without* barking or whining at all. She simply sat there soaking up the gorgeous sunshine, taking in all the wonderful scents and sounds in the backyard. Maybe there'll be two moons in the sky tonight.

Tree in Spring by Julia Bristow Jewelry

2008-04-28T16:26:00.015-04:00

A short post today highlighting the eclectic multi media adornments of my friend Julia Bristow, creator of the awesome artisan jewelry available at Julia Bristow Jewelry. I'm amazed at the attention to detail and obvious care that Julia pours into each labor of love she creates.

I'm also honored that Julia chose to incorporate one of our GahooleTree hand wrapped copper wire nests as the focal for this "Tree in Spring" necklace (item #JBD724). Here hundreds of czech glass beads were carefully hand woven, together with wood agate stones and gold filled findings to form this gorgeous nature inspired wearable artwork.

I was drawn to the beauty of Julia's lovely Seashore Brooch and Earring set when I noticed it featured on TalentDatabase.com! Julia's pieces successfully marry various media with her obvious unique flair for developing pleasing and eye catching color combinations within a balanced and hamonious structure. Watch out for more amazing designs from this talented artist.

TalentDatabase

2008-04-23T16:47:00.004-04:00

I'm copying this snippet of code here

for future reference.

My talentdatabase portfolio will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Please visit my talentdatabase portfolio and leave an acknowledgement or comment.
Thanks!

Lacy Flower and Vine Comb

2008-04-22T01:23:00.013-04:00

Wow, I just figured out how to adjust the frame widths on this blogger template. All those years of struggling on my own to learn html are paying off. I feel this new layout is more visually pleasing. Monday was a good day project wise. I figured out how to create a custom Error 404 Page Not Found document for one of my websites. That's a project I have been meaning to get to for years.

I also have finally created a sitemap and uploaded it to google. Those .xml things are still a mystery to me though :)

In jewelry, I'm working on Corra's new zhu ring tutorial (from deCor's Handmades) which I haven't figured out yet, but I did create an amazing folded wrap of copper wire (I'll call this technique "zhu wrap gone wrong") that I'll incorporate into something special for a later post.

Finally as noted elsewhere, this is the season when I'm busy designing bridal hair accessories. My garlands, hairvines, tiaras and hair combs consist mainly of freshwater pearls of various shades wrapped in genuine sterling silver wire embellished with a sprinkling of glittering swarovski crystals. This New Era Heirloom Lacy Flower and Vine Bridal Veil Comb is representative of the delicate bridal sprays that I enjoy creating. A sterling silver spray with pearl and crystal accent can add pop and sizzle to so many aspects of a beautifully pulled together wedding day - from bridal centrepieces, bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages to yes even the cake!

Our bridal accessories can be produced using either glass, swarovski crystals or genuine gemstones (at a minor upcharge). We will incorporate coordinating or matching freshwater pearls or we offer imitation pearlescent beads for the value conscious.

How about a little blue sapphire to add that "something blue"? Or what about incorporating tiny birthstones to represent both bride and groom? It's so easy and lovely to create these customized statement pieces that I really have fun with them! And I hope it shows....

New Materials

2008-04-21T22:53:00.013-04:00

This week is off to a far better start for us here at Ga'hooleTree and Oracle Design Group. With all of my blogs I include business planning and strategy topics and this post is no exception. I've decided that the buy group idea will work well for me if I plan ahead and schedule appropriate orders to keep my supplies replenished periodically. My bulk buy research is paying off and I've located sources for gemstones, wire, components, you name it and there's a cost justifiable group buy connection that we can tap into! Whoohoo!

A kind lady has taken me under her wing and is walking me through the intricacies of group buys for jewelry designers. Marilyn also graciously offered to let me in on a last minute specials order she was placing with MiGem. I wasn't familiar with this online retailer but they do have some yummy gems! And I'm very happy for the opportunity to piggyback off Marilyn's order. Can't wait to get my goodies too!

Before I heard about the special offers at MiGem I placed an order for these smooth champagne quartz briolettes at A Cut Above on Etsy. This is another online merchant who offers high quality gems. These cute stones will be featured in a later post.

In current inventory I only have smooth pears in prasiolite (green amethyst) and london blue topaz pendant sized stones, so I'm looking forward to working with these pretties. Although we love faceting, I simply adore the smooth specimens. They're a nice compromise between rugged and formal and the lines are so clean. But I probably love how juicy droplets appear and the neat way they showcase the gemstone color so well.

On the topic of smooth briolettes, from MiGem I'm hoping I'll get in on these frosted lemon quartz polka dot smooth pears or the teardrops as well as the frosted champagne quartz polka dot smooth pears shown.
More on these acquisitions in a later post. I'm also hoping I'll get the weird green tourmaline pencils that that might work well in mens/unisex chokers (more to follow).

The pink umba sapphir e full briolettes arrived today from Gems of Bombay on etsy. These are good stones, not dyed but the online pics were highly colour enhanced. Nevertheless these little beauties I'm working into a chandelier that should be completed soon.

And finally, our first order of bali components is now on its way from Indonesia. It will be interesting to see how this wholesale personal buy works out. And if it doesn't pan out we've been put in touch with a handful of other suppliers of Bali components worth trying. Will keep you posted...

Slow Progress Today

2008-04-16T02:39:00.008-04:00

This is one of the those days when absolutely nothing has gone well. One of my vermeil orders arrived. By mistake I left it in harm's way so Amy grabbed it and chewed it up. She detects cigarette smoke and other nice strange odours on mail so she destroys just about any and all mail she can sink her huge airedale teeth into. And in one of my other companies it seems everything that can go wrong is doing just that. Well things aren't exactly going wrong, it's just a swell of bad press that seems suspect to say the least. And it caught me off guard. So I haven't been sleeping.

At the supplies store a customer placed a huge order and then kept writing that he couldn't get paypal to work. Perhaps it's my background in the financial services sector, or the fact that I've been dealing with online sales for so many years now, but when customers complain that they can't use PayPal I turn a deaf ear. I'm so tired of hearing this stuff from folks who either haven't got a paypal account set up, or they didn't complete the verification process, or they can't figure out how PayPal works, or well there are dozens of explanations I've heard. Anyhow, this poor guy kept saying that payment couldn't be made using credit card and I really wasn't listening. Finally I get a convo from him asking me to cancel the sale because there was never this problem before when he tried to use PayPal and pay via credit card. So I'm thinking, okay then your account really is set up and it does work. Maybe there's something askew at my end. Guess what? Our PayPal account settings are blocking all kinds of things. We were set up to block all unverified US addresses. and the real kicker - we didn't have PayPal Optional enabled. Go figure!

I think I've fixed the PayPal optional problem. Now my buyers can purchase using a credit card without having to set up a PayPal account. Let's hope that customer tries one more time to pay!

At SassyDLite I had a necklace order to ship. The buyer requested a longer chain. Folks don't realize it but these last minute changes can sometimes mean virtually rebuilding the entire piece. Anyhow I got that shipped. And hanging over my head for several days now has been a custom bridal hair comb creation that I'd been putting off. The buyer gave me an outline of her specs and I had difficulty envisioning how I would pull the project together. Anyhow here it is. What do you think of it?

The one thing that has gone well today was hearing from Danielle that she loves it. Thank God! I really didn't want to have to take another stab at this project. The clear swarovski crystals seem way too monochromatic for my taste. It's no secret that I like a broad palette of colour.

I suppose I'm frustrated because I started a fabulous pair of handmade chandeliers several days ago and I haven't had even a moment to develop the creation. I'm one of those designers who lumps the components together to see how they'll look when combined. That means each partially finished project is strewn on my bench. I'm currently looking for a better storage system, and I've found some that are nice (nice and expensive too), but most of these systems don't allow me to see the materials at a glance. All the gems are laid neatly away inside drawers and I'm not a fan of that approach. But I may have to adjust to a new system like that in order to get better organized.

So my bench is a mess and the 26g headpins finally arrived from Magdalena Borejko of Magdalenas Atelier in Poland today. I've been waiting weeks for these materials. Now I'm ready to get creative, unless more orders arrive.

Is a Buying Group Right For You?

2008-04-15T02:05:00.005-04:00

The one aspect of being a jewellery designer that I find most frustrating is sourcing. Finding good supplies can drive you right 'round the bend... mad actually. I'm picky about my components and gems. So recently I posted trade leads on Trade India no less. We'll see how that pans out. One gem supplier from India actually referred me to a bead buying group moderated by a list owner who lives in New Mexico. I'm not exactly certain whether this particular buy group will work for me, but we'll see. At the present time they've got lots of buys on the go.

I'm unfamiliar with this group purchasing stuff... I suppose I've led a very sheltered life. When I want something I'm pretty used to paying retail or darn close... and I thought I was doing very well for myself on the jewelry acquisition side by travelling to the InterGem shows that regularly take place throughout North Eastern USA to get gemstone beads at wholesale... But this jewelry buying group is a horse of a different color. These ladies have got it all going on. They sit at their computers and chat seemingly endlessly via their Yahoo group about 'group buys'. wow!

They've got an elaborate system of volunteer hostesses who deal with collating and forwarding complicated spreadsheets from all sorts of gem and jewelry supply channels. You name it, they've already got a buy connection set up. Their most recent gem order to India was $22K and they've currently got a buy on the go totalling $16K in just crystals. Wow!

I'm blown away with this revelation. The first order I placed at www.zwebshows.net years ago for example totalled around $500 at wholesale. I'm fairly used to doing my own research and acquiring my materials independently. So it will take time for me to adapt to a group buy mindset.

Already I'm reading all kinds of posts on this new group buy forum from hostesses and group leaders scolding members who haven't paid for their orders. This procrastination is totally unfair to other members who did pay on time and who may in all likelihood actually keenly need and want their order fulfilled and shipped pronto. Now that I can relate to. When I want something, I want it now... not in a month - I mean expedited delivery, courier if necessary. But once I plop down my money, I want immediate gratification.

Another bone of contention that has emerged on the buy group is that with their strong purchasing power, this unit gets early notification from some very large jewelry supply houses of upcoming and weekly specials - specials that are offered at ridiculous prices for certain elite customers. The early newsletter releases of weekly specials is yummy and the platinum level pricing is truly drool worthy. The problem is that again, lots of gals haven't paid up in time for the orders to be processed. And members who paid early/on time are being shafted as they may in all likelihood lose out on some of the great deals due to sell outs.

Wow, again I say wow. I'm so independent and impatient and controlling. Can I deal with sending my funds to the USA to wait for this group to get its act in gear? Dunno. I'll give serious consideration to planning ahead - way ahead... in order to avail myself of the deals. I'll need to adopt a new mantra - something about patience being a virtue -- although I think I'll need something much more spiritually meaningful than that to help me through this.

For very expensive items (highest end gemstones and precious metal) this group buying will grant access to prices I likely can't get anywhere. Unless I can find gemstones that somehow fell off a truck :)

All that said, I really need sterling, gold filled and vermeil findings, so I placed a $500 order today... my first one directly from Bali... okay changing my independent ways may be harder than I thought... And in my defense, I can't wait months to work all this out with a buy group!

I was featured on Talent Database!!!

2008-04-12T01:22:00.011-04:00

Wow, I just checked my email and am overwhelmed to hear that I am featured today on Talent Database!!!

Here's the screenshot:

And we also made the Popular Today list AND the Members On The Move list!!! This means finally I'm receiving a bit of the recognition I'm lusting after :)...

I've been humbled by the kind words of acknowledgement from other artists on the talent database.

They say a picture is worth 10,000 words, so perhaps it's just that folks are impressed with this pic of my new oxidized sterling Earth and Sky Chandeliers:

This wire wrap method is time consuming and extremely detail oriented. The overall design was first sketched out. I'll grab a scan of that for a tutorial to follow. The actual frames were hammered then coiled. Coiled vines were mingled in and finally all the beading and dangles were applied. Lots of work but well worth the time invested...

Great Supplies Store.. and Local Too Eh!

2008-04-09T00:18:00.006-04:00

I've been meaning to do a write up on a great new jewellery supplier I ran across a few weeks ago, BobbiThisnThat on etsy. Bobbi carries wonderful jewellery supply/beading items at fabulous prices and she is extremely adept at dealing with special requests like those from cranky, overworked designers :(

I bought high end fancy Bali sterling silver toggles like the Dragonfly Toggle shown below. Bobbi sources her finds directly from Bali to ensure you're getting a fair price. I also grabbed up some of Bobbi's fancy czech beads, fancy 26g vermeil headpins - you know, hard to find stuff that I'd been searching all over for.

And one great thing I absolutely must comment on, is that this is a Canadian outlet... just down Hwy. 401 from me. Come to think of it, I've already placed five orders with Bobbi and many of the components I received will be worked into luxe pieces to be featured in my flagship store Gahooletree and also at boutiques like Nourish an innovative new boutique of handmade items located in Athens, GA and also at our SassyDLite outlet.

Bobbi's online store is extremely popular with Etsians the world over and she's making record sales due in no small part to her broad offerings of quality components at very fair prices. She provides lightning fast shipping too! Check out ALL of Bobbi's goodies at http://www.bobbithisnthat.etsy.com/ today!

Gemstone Bridal Hair Jewelry

2008-04-07T01:09:00.015-04:00

With wedding season right around the corner, all I seem to be able to concentrate on these days is bridal jewelry. Some of my newest gemstone bridal hair accessories are now available for online purchase in my etsy shop.

The Golden Era Hair Comb Heirloom is a good example of my custom bridal hair jewelry. This 4 1/2 inch spray features a keishi petal pearl flower supported by freshwater pearls, peridot, swarovski crystals and 14k gold fill wire that was carefully hand wrapped onto a 2 inch gold plated comb.

Baby's Breath is more modest, but any bride, bridesmaid or flowergirl will defintely be radiant wearing this 3 inch spray featuring freshwater pearls and crystals handwrapped using sterling silver wire onto an heirloom quality rhodium plated 1 inch comb.

The soft pink czech glass beads in this piece can be replaced with swarovski austrian crystals in clear, aurora borealis, or dozens of pleasing modern shades to coordinate with or match your bridal ensemble....

My designs are timeless using the highest quality materials available. My clients appreciate the exquisite quality of my craftsmanship too :) Please contact me with your colorway or design ideas to get your bridal jewelry order queued.

I will design and execute your custom order per your delivery specifications in plenty of time for your special day. But don't delay. There is no upcharge for custom design work. I love custom orders and look forward to working with you!

Handmade Wire Chandelier Earrings

2008-03-18T18:59:00.006-04:00

What a horrible day I've had. Somehow while adjusting the shutter settings on my digital camera I accidentally changed something else that I shouldn't have! And all my great shots look like crap. I can't find the manual for my Canon Powershot A550. I just must get more organized.

Anyhow, I've been working on more handmade wire chandelier styles.

I just love these 14k gold fill celtic knots from which dangle gracefully two different cuts of rhodolite garnet.

This simplistic earring is very elegant and I'll create other styles from this template.

Within the artisan jewelry niche I'm seeing a disturbing trend, namely the overuse of elaborate commercially produced chandelier findings to produce over the top gemstone chandeliers that are by definition well outside the budget of the average consumer.

Now the dazzling commercially produced chandeliers laden with gemstones are fab for the hollywood set, but let's get real. I create jewelry for real women to wear -- not only for evening, bridal & formal wear but heck even for everyday use.

I ask you, shouldn't the terms 'artisan' and 'handcrafted' rightly define genuinely handforged items like these? I'd like to see a return to actual craftsmanship in 'artisan handcrafted jewelry'.

I also created the sterling silver chandelier shown to the right by hand. This chandelier is basic yet it has lots of dazzle and we really like the authentic artisan style.

Remember to Buy Handmade and don't forget to take the handmade pledge at http://www.buyhandmade.org/.

Oh, and thanks for supporting an independent artisan!

Hone your craft

2008-03-18T18:38:00.005-04:00

Although I used to be a self help junky, I'm not much of a fan of jewelry tutorials. Most of them seem to be a cash grab with very little fresh and new information to put forth. But the other day I purchased my second jewelry tutorial. My first one was authored by the intrepid Eni Oken whose intricate wrapping techniques caught my eye a few years ago.

Anyhow I just purchased on Etsy from deCor's Handmades and found their Pipa chinese love knot earring tutorial to be very easy to follow. I just love the first pair of earrings that I made following this system.

I used sterling silver wire, mystic topaz onion centres surrounded by a ring of burnt orange coloured tundra sapphires and an outside ring of claret toned tundra sapphires. Eventually I will tweak this method to suit my own style. For this first attempt I actually wanted to surround the mystic topaz with a ring of very fine faceted glimmering black diamonds, but I didn't leave quite enough room for them! Oh well, live and learn...

You can purchase this nice tutorial at the decors blog link above or at their etsy store called deCor's Handemades!

Another new etsy store, is it really necessary?

2008-03-13T17:32:00.003-04:00

In a word, yes! My sketchbook is crammed with fresh new ideas that will appeal to girls, teens, or simply the young at heart. At our new store called SassyDLite we've already begun to introduce deals on gemstone jewelry wardrobe essentials. Here's how the shop currently looks:

Check back often for more sleek and urban gemstone delights as well as rustic and casual pieces all made with the same attention to detail and quality materials for which Gahooletree, our flagship etsy store is famous.

In an artistic rut lately?

2008-03-13T16:29:00.004-04:00

Lately I found myself feeling down about my jewellery business. I wasn't blogging, or uploading pics to flickr or my social shopping sites. My web sites had fallen out of date. In fact, I haven't even been creating much new work. It might sound moody, but like many artists, if I'm not at peace I can't create.

Anyhow I've been stuck in an artistic rut. The problem is that I wanted to develop and display new jewellery designs and styles, but nothing I'm envisioning and desirous of creating will mesh well with my current Etsy storefront (which has become somewhat unthemed, messy and confusing since my personal taste in jewelry is all over the map).

A few days ago I read a great article on Etsy "Shop Makeover Series: Pimp Your Shop for 2008" about growing your online business. One main point on marketing strategy that somehow I had overlooked was that it's very hard to market your shop if it doesn't appeal to a particular target market/niche. Now I'm supposed to be a marketing expert, but this obvious foundational pillar of my overall strategy somehow got laid by the wayside....

Okay, so I've opened a second Etsy storefront targeted at girls, teens or simply the young at heart. Soon SassyDLite will be filled with fun, fresh and flirty jewelry for the sassy woman. The beauty of segmenting my products thus, is that now I now have a venue for incorporating all of the basic beads, rustic stones and contemporary findings that I started collecting a decade ago into more simplistic and casual designs at lower price points. I had amassed a large stash of copper, brass, gunmetal etc. even gold plate and silver plate findings that are not consistent with the Gahooletree theme. SassyDLite, my newest venue, grants us access to the huge teen, twentysomething and thirtysomething grassroots crowd of value conscious shoppers. But the true bonus for me in all this is personal - I'm creating again!!!!

I'm now able to clean up (aka Pimp My Shop) my flagship storefront, Gahooletree, that offers luxe, evening and bridal pieces made of mostly precious and semiprecious gemstones on gold or sterling silver. As inappropriate items expire in this store, I can discount them and move them to SassyDLite, the new venue.

I decided to begin work on developing a third venue in order to move in yet another new themed direction. More on this to follow. So if you're feeling out of sorts about your jewelry business, maybe you haven't lost your artistic touch or motivation. You just might be in need of a new way to express your creativity.

Busy Week at the workbench

2007-11-13T02:19:00.001-05:00

This week has been awesome for me. My fascination of and love for the fabulous feldspars continues. I created a line of wonderful ice cut labradorite jewellery that is simply gorgeous and also functional. The deep sea blues of this batch of quality cut labradorite stones is breath taking. The pictures don't really do the creations justice, but you get the idea I think.

Another feldspar beauty is rainbow moonstone, and over the next two weeks I'll introduce a tiny collection of moonstone jewellery that's just perfect for the holiday season through the spring.

For some reason, I'm having an inordinate amount of fun working with new shapes, materials and combinations. I can't really explain why I'm enjoying the creative process so much these days, but who's complaining?

This two toned chunky bracelet came out of nowhere and developed into something that I find stunning. I've received correspondence via Etsy concerning how beautiful and unique this item is, and the kudos is truly humbling. But this chunky style doesn't readily lend itself in my opinion to a matching ensemble. I'll develop a modified earring and necklace, but not on the same scale as this bracelet.

One new feature of my work this week is the emphasis on two tone metals. I've even combined copper, silver and gold in a few pieces that I'm quite pleased with. I'll continue this mixing of metals through the holiday season.

I just found a stash of fabulously cut clear rosy quartz marquis beads that I'll work into something pretty for Christmas. This stone has potential to be used in Valentine's Day items as well. Below is my first creation using these nice Rose Quartz marquis cut beads. This earring pair features bright red jade accents and lovely prehnite rounds. Stay tuned for lots more pretty items featuring these juicy pink beauties.

If you're looking for a truly unique, one of a kind gift item for someone very special, you've come to the right place. I don't assess an upcharge for creating custom pieces. Just let me know what colours you had in mind, what style, or what gemstones, or what your overall budget is and I'll do the rest.

I have most gemstone beads in stock and a huge variety of styles of earrings, bracelets and necklaces to work with.

I enjoy working with men's chokers too. More on that to follow.

Until next time, take care....

My Flickr Profile

2007-11-07T00:52:00.001-05:00

The other day I somehow stumbled upon http://www.flickr.com/ and I decided to upload pics that are relevant to me. So without giving it a second thought I quickly created a collection containing a few of my recent jewellery creations - items that are available for purchase at http://www.oraclegemdesigns.com/ and http://www.gahooletree.etsy.com/.

On Flickr I also decided to store an ongoing collection of photos pertaining to my wonderful recumbent road bicycle, the Oracle Omega, which is also available for purchase through my company Oracle Cycle Works. So I started uploading early prototype photos of the Oracle Omega, some of Jack's early tig welding stuff and overall design notes.

But today I read somewhere that Flickr forbids commercial use of their site. Does that mean that these picture collections which represent the essence of who and what I am, will be banned from Flickr? If you have the answer please let me know. If my sharing these aspects of my life is going to be prohibited by Flickr I'd like to know now, before I spend any more time that will go to waste.
-Anna Lee

Hostess Bonuses for Home Jewellery Parties Durham Region

2007-11-07T00:28:00.001-05:00

I truly enjoy doing home jewellery parties not only to see the sparkle that lights up the eyes of the guests as they drool over my jewellery, but because I'm basically a people person who loves making new friends. Whether you're thinking about Christmas purchases or looking ahead to Valentine's or perhaps even a bridal event next spring, I have a complete ensemble of gorgeous and affordable unique jewellery pieces available to bring to your home that will dazzle your guests and generate a blast of a good time at your home jewelry party.

Remember that each of my handcrafted necklaces, earrings and bracelets is created using fine quality genuine gemstones combine with sterling silver and gold findings. No two pieces are identical, so my artisan jewelry adornments make perfect thoughtful gifts for family, friends and acquaintances.

Who doesn't love a party? And a party that is chocked full of great handmade artisan gemstone gifts is an ideal birthday or anniversay party, neighbourhood icebreaker, meet and greet, fund raiser, etc. My home jewelry shows even make a great housewarming party!

Call 905 718-7080 to book your home jewelry party today!

My hostess benefits include: 10% commission on all show sales, amazing personalized thank you gifts, great entertainment for your guests, not to mention kudos from all the invitees!
Until next time,
-Anna Lee
Thanks for supporting an independent artisan jewellery designer.

Jewellery Making - Cup Burrs and Cutting Fluid

2007-10-29T13:14:00.000-04:00

I don't plan to rag on regarding jewelry making techniques on this blog because there are already so many other sources of relevant online information. But after manually smoothing earwires for quite some time, I finally invested in Cup Burrs. In my neck of the woods there's a jeweller supply outlet called Lacy's where prices are high and the level of customer service is low. But my husband went there anyhow (100 km out of his way) solely for the purpose of buying cup burrs for me.

Unfortunately Lacy's indicates cup burr size by outside diameter as opposed to inside. They also stubbornly refuse to address the fact that most of the wire available is measured in gauge, not millimeters. So in their usual arrogant wisdom, Lacy's sold David cup burrs that are way too small to be of any use with 20, 22 or even 24 gauge wires! Fortunately he went on eBay and ordered dozens of cup burrs from the states. Well, I'm smitten! These fabulous little tools are a MUST HAVE for every artisan jewellery designer...

The main problem I found in using a cup burr (with any of my Dremels or the flex shaft) was how hot the earwire got, and how quickly it heated up due to the friction. I only hold my earrings in my bare fingers while working, so was getting burned...

But David suggested I try using a cutting fluid. I was skeptical, but wow! now I'm a total convert. In my old bicycle shop (well Jack's stuff really) I found a bottle of Park Tool Cutting Fluid CF-1. It's got a non aerosol pump top so I can pump a little bit onto a cotton ball and dab each rough wire end into that before smoothing with the cup burr.

Being self taught with no background in formal jeweller techniques, I have no idea what type of cutting fluid the 'experts' use. But I can attest to the fact that Park Tool Cutting Fluid (available at bike shops) is wonderful. I think it sells for about $10 a bottle, maybe less, and this product is environmentally safe, biodegradeable, contains no solvents, no mineral oils, it protects and extends the life of your cup burrs and get this as the friction starts to build you can actually see the cutting fluid start to evaporate or even smoke off --- but the wire doesn't get hot!!!

Oh yeah, I've got acute chemical sensitivity syndrome and this wonderful stuff doesn't bother my skin either.
I should state that apparently cutting fluid is available everywhere in many forms and brands so check local hardware stores, automotive supply places etc.

ThisNext.com 'Badge' as a page element

2007-10-29T00:43:00.000-04:00

I've just decided that I'd like to see my ThisNext.com badge banner permanently displayed at the top of this journal. I'd genuinely like to hear from you if you've taken a peak at any of my jewellery creations. Send your feedback via comment to this blog. I'll find it an invaluable aid in determining future products, pricing, and strategies. Thanks!

My Designer Jewellery .co.uk link exchange ???

2007-10-28T23:57:00.001-04:00

As part of finding my way through the changing requirements of online marketing, today I'm also going to try to find out how and why I should link to another related blog. I was very surprised that someone had even read my original blog post and even more shocked that someone actually emailed me explaining that she was creating a new designer jewellery blog that I could participate in if I wanted to. So I replied expressing interest and today they asked me to do a 'blog link exchange' if I was interested.

So what is a blog link exchange and how do I go about doing it?
What is the benefit of participating in someone else's blog?
And does this link exchange idea mean that I can actually load my content onto their blog?

I'm going to paste the other blog URL into the 'link' box above and see what happens!!!

Recommendations at This Next.com

2007-10-28T23:44:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I've learned a bit about the need to incorporate social shopping input into my marketing plan. And today I'm experimenting with a widget called a badge. A badge apparently is a snippet of html code that reflects my favorites that I recommended to ThisNext.com. And here's a sample of mine:

I was surprised that folks were actually reading my recommendations, but lo and behold my ThisNext stats show that a few folks have liked my jewelry creations so much they actually put them on their wish lists! Whoopeee.

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Intro to marketing designer jewelry online at Etsy

2007-09-17T18:53:00.001-04:00

Not knowing much about this whole blogging thing, its uses or value as a traffic generation tool, I'm just diving in blindly here. This past two weeks, I decided to make a serious attempt to take my designer jewellery line to market online. I'm fairly computer savvy, but this endeavour is much easier said than done. I'm not a fan of photo taking, photo editing, or item description composition. And like most artists I suppose, I'd far sooner devote what brain cells *are* firing on all cylinders today to the broader good of actually designing and producing fabulous jewelled items. But no such luck. My online research today revealed that I can't ever possibly hope to sell anything online unless I start a blog and use it regularly.... sooooooooo here we are.

Fortunately, the time spent on setting up my new store on Etsy has been rewarding. Some of my jewellery items look good in the Etsy showcase. Great photography is the key, and that too is easier said than done when it comes to jewelry. I love taking pictures, but have never delved into the world of commercial photography, so imagine my surprise when my husband informed me I needed to invest in a 'light box'. A what? Well, he actually bought a photography tent thingy with daylight type lights. It's an intricate and expensive setup but we're finally starting to get some quality photos of my gemstone pieces.

Years ago I tried selling my high end jewellery creations on eBay of all places. What a waste of time and money that turned out to be. Overcrowded now with mass produced jewelry from the orient and a sleugh of amateurish stuff from the craft store crowd, I didn't recoup even the cost of my quality materials through that venue. And I became totally offended that eBay buyers (in search of best bargains) couldn't appreciate the time and effort I spent to source materials, plan and execute fine designs.

I live in Oshawa, Ontario and the local 'bead stores' leave something to be desired. Years ago I made the mistake of buying gemstone items online only to regret that decision a great deal. Today, my buying trips take me to Chicago, Cleveland or Boston areas, a time consuming and costly jaunt, but hand picking my materials is fun, exciting and the only true way to ensure quality control. But at times I still need to rant about the costs incurred. And like all artists, sometimes I ruminate for days about a design, adding then taking away elements until I'm completely satisfied with the final product. So now I'm ranting about how little $$ per hour I make as a designer! Oh well, when my work is done I sit back and marvel at the fabulous outcome.

Months ago I started building one of my original jewellery sites Oracle Gem Designs, a site that I mistakenly chose solely on the basis of low cost hosting. Unfortunately my hosting package included such ugly templates that I got discouraged and gave up. I am experienced Dreamweaver developer but thought I would easily and quickly be able to churn out a classy jewellery site using the provided 'web builder' utilities. Anyhow, this week, I was delighted to discover that you can create a mini Etsy showcase in html code that you can add to webpages, so today I updated the homepage at http://www.oraclegemdesigns.com/ to reflect a mini showcase of the Etsy listings and it doesn't look too bad.

The cool thing about all this is that my overall link stategy is starting to come together and we all agree that linking our sites increases rankings. Whoopeee! Tomorrow I need to learn more about ROR and RSS and XML, etc., etc.... and oh yeah, I found out today I could set up a free store at eCrater.com! So I'll begin building my little eCrater store (likely to sell mostly supplies, studio overstock and casual designs) but with links to some of my other sites.... until next time...