Branching out...and trying new things...and loving the results!

More & more folks have been learning the craft of working with resin & I've taken some time to teach a few people how to do it through the tutorial on my blog & craftster as well as through convos back & forth on etsy & flickr because people are curious how resin jewelry is made & would like to learn.

It's so fun to share the knowledge & then see what people come up with once they get a handle on it. I don't mind sharing because the reward in knowing how much fun someone is having with it is unmeasurable!

I find it easier to instruct someone on the art of resin rather that the art of drawing because I find that resin is more technical when starting out. You have to pay attention to temperature & measurements & whatnot when working with resin...whereas I could show someone how I draw...I don't think I could make a universal 'drawing tutorial'.

Sprinkles & glitter are fine & super fun to work with...& although I don't plan on stopping any time soon, I'm finding that they are limited in of them self. The problem I'm having is that there are only so many combinations of colors you can do & since resin is most likely poured into a commercial mold...one person's design can be mistaken for another's very easily. I like making things that don't look like what everyone else is doing...& I'm aware of some crafters assuming others are knocking them off...so that's a good scene to avoid altogether.

The new stuff I've been working on lately has been different from that of other resin jewelry crafters out there by mixing my love of photography or drawing with my love of resin...& now I've got a wicked fun variety of items available that don't only have candy & glitter in them or just appeal to teenage girls!

These are completely my work & vision! From the time I snapped the picture or put a pen to paper...they have an edgier, kitschy, pop art appeal to them that make them stand out from the crowd.

I personally love wearing one of my creations out & always get compliments & questions about it from total strangers!

The most fun I have creating something is when it's a custom item that is totally one of a kind...made with a special person in mind...and already knowing that it's going to mean so much to them.

This clover keyring was a custom order I'd made ...using a real four leaf clover I'd found. More clover items to come to the shop soon, as I've been finding them all over the place!

:o)

Another wordless Wednesday...Butterflies Love Lollipops!

If anyone knows what type of butterfly this is...I'd love to know... we've never seen this kind around before...and it was so tame!

:o)

Wordless Wednesday...

I have a lot of things I could say about this photo...but I'll let it speak for itself! LoL!

Biker Chic(k) ...a new trend?

Browsing the spotlight section of Etsy's Storque I saw this article which really peaked my interest... Biker Chic!

I believe that the biker style is more 'timeless' than trendy, however I am thrilled nonetheless to think that a couple of the projects I have waiting in the wings are considered to be 'on trend' at etsy!

Most of my current selections are sweet & cute & I'd love to bring a little edginess in to balance things out...the ying to my yang!

In photography my passion is taking photos of people. I find all types of people fascinating & love capturing a moment in time. My favorite subjects to photograph are men & children...in a raw & 'shoot from the hip' style of street photography.

My art photography is very different from my 'family snapshots'...more gritty, dirty, & in your face.

I'd love to hear any feedback on what you think of this new artistic endeavour!

:o)

Today is Etsy Day!

Have you ever shopped at Etsy?
Etsy is an online marketplace where you can buy unique beautifully handcrafted items, vintage items, & supplies for your own crafting needs!


Check out this notice about getting the word out in regards to Etsy Day!
http://www.etsy.com/storque/events/etsy-sellers-unite-for-etsy-day-join-in-3821/

In honor of etsy day I'm offering free shipping in my shop to all!
http://www.isewcute.etsy.com/


:o)

I can't stand geese...

...unless they're baby geese!

My kiddos had quite a thrill seeing baby geese for the first time! Geese are everywhere around here...they're agreassive, dirty, and don't seem to be afraid of humans...so I don't understand why they're on the 'protected wildlife' list....but they do have adorable babies!

We fed the adults some 'goldfish crackers'...and babygirl kept hollering, "here geese-birds, heeeeere! Got food to you!"

:o)

It is possible to embroider and eat ice cream at the same time!!!

I was having a dilemma...albeit a minor dilemma... while working on embroidering a tea towel for a craftster swap I'm involved in.

The urge hit me to indulge in some ice cream...& that is a hard urge to ignore when you like ice cream the way I love ice cream & I was in the zone getting my craft on.

When the work just flows & the excitement is there to see a project coming together...it's difficult to stop... even for ice cream!

So I got on twitter & tweeted about my little problem:

...and the response to it was huge... for me... I'm not talking Ashton Kutcher huge here...as I'm not that popular yet... LoL! ...but fellow craftster craftydame gave me the answer I was looking for!

Thank you craftydame!!!! It's the answer to a crafty ice cream lover's dream!!!

So head on over to Jesse Kate's blog to enter her giveaway for 'the best invention ever'... the drip stick!

Invented by a mom, it enables you to eat your icecream without the mess...no more sticky hands & you can set a cone or popsicle down to free your hands for embroidery ...or anything else you need free hands for!

Happy crafting/eating everyone!

:o)

Not Really a Waitress... such a gorgeous nail polish color...

on toes & fingernails...but not on white carpet or a 2 year old!

My DD wanted to paint her toenails herself...but ended up painting our bedroom carpet instead! I had a moment of panic when I saw her...thinking she had cut herself ...badly, as her right leg from the knee down was entirely blood red. I had a moment of relief realizing it was nail polish. Then finally I had a moment of panic when I realized...it's nailpolish!!!

She had gotten a bottle from the hall closet...which has a doorknob lock on it for toddlers...but the door must've not been closed for her to get into it. Now all the nail polish is on a high shelf...out of sight.

I grabbed her & tossed her pjs into the trash can...the fumes alone were terrible...and then went to work on her legs with baby wipes soaked with nail polish remover. After a very quick wipe down & into a bath...she was content to wash up. After the bath my husband & I went to work on the carpet.

Here's what we did: sprayed spots with a combination of goo gone & windex window cleaner & dabbed them with a rag. Once the thick spots were more like pink stains we worked them out by spraying windex & using the rag to scrub...as well as a scrub brush for the stubborn ones that had started to dry. THis left pale pink & blue (from the windex) on our carpet. I got out the oxi clean... heated 2 cups of water to near boiling & added 1/2 cup of the detergent & mixed well. Went back to the carpet & poured some onto all the remaining spots...& let it set for 5 minutes. Then I used my Hoover steam vac to suck everything out of the carpet & rinse.

You'd never know where the spot had been...unless I point it out! :o)

During this whole ordeal...it didn't occur to me to take photos...as you can probably imagine!

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

This is one of those moments than make me feel like I'm totally not failing as a parent! My kids are really good together usually, but it's great to have an un-prompted moment like this when the little guy just takes his little sister under his wing!

:o)

We Have A Winner! Think Pink - Breast Cancer Pendant Giveaway!

UPDATE: April 1 2009
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!


Congratulations Jen

Baby Girl drew your name from over 20 participants through flickr, email, & my blog!


Thank you to everyone who participated, I really value your helpful feedback for improving my etsy & sharing your personal stories. Be sure to check back here for future giveaways! This was so fun!

Kind Regards,
June

(baby girl is wearing a hair bow clippie by supernerdstef on etsy & sweet dress is by wildolive kids on etsy...I made a mistake posting that it was the birdseed dress by PrettyMe on etsy...which we have & love...just wanted to give correct credit where credit is due)


This is my first time doing a giveaway on my blog! Yay!

The piece I'm giving away is my 'breast cancer hope' heart shaped resin pendant necklace!

I've known people who have had breast cancer & survived...as well as people who have suffered great loss due to breast cancer. This necklace was inspired by my own little scare a few weeks ago...which turned out alright...but the 'scare' of it is still with me. I think 'what if'...and look at my little ones & it shakes me to my core. I count myself lucky & feel blessed!

I made this pendant to work through some of my own feelings... may it be treasured & go to a good home!

The pendant is hand cast resin...with a pink ribbon symbol, various glitters, real cupcake sprinkles that look like the pink ribbon symbols, & more glitter. It hangs from a silver plated bail & an 18" metallic ball chain.

The value of this piece is $30.

To enter to win, all you have to do is visit my etsy shop & come back here to tell me three things in the comments below before March 31, 2009:

1. Your favorite item
2. Your least favorite item or what I should improve...I'm looking for constructive criticism here...to help my shop be the best it can be!
3. What item would you like me to make in the future.


Be sure to leave me your email address, as that’s what I’ll use to randomly choose a winner at the end & notify the winner.

I will do the drawing & announce the winner on April 1st... no fooling! :o)


Please feel free to share your own personal experiences with breast cancer & how it has affected you & your loved ones. The greatest thing I experienced with my scare was the reaching out by others...to tell me to be strong, hang in there, and to say they'd been through it & were just wishing me the best & thinking of me.

Sometimes the worst things in life bring out the best in people.

:o)