Lots of arty things!

Wow! Has it been long since my last post or what!?

I've been very, very, verrrrry busy. But good busy. So here's a big update post. ^_^

Lindsay and I created the Femme Thou Art Collective - a group of highly skilled international artists, whose artwork revolves around the feminine. We've both put in a lot of time and effort to get this idea off the ground, and things are starting to heat up and get exciting. Our first group auction will be on May 20th, the theme being 'Tarot'. We've also got a show in Las Vegas at Blackbird Studios that some of us will be participating in. There's a few other exciting things planned and on the horizon for the collective, so you guys will just have to wait and see! :)
Make sure to follow us on our facebook page.

I recently finished this illustration 'Secret Diary'. I've decided to also pursue freelance illustration for children's and teens books, and am building up a fantasy portfolio just for that.

I also got some really fantastic commissions and sales in my shop, the Bohemian Faerie. I made two matching ear drops for a customer that's wearing them with a costume, a pair of forest elf ear cuffs for a mother who's giving them to her daughter, and I sold my first, biggish piece of artwork (I was and am still so so so excited about that).

The jewelry making tray, where I plan out my designs

Forest Elf Ear Cuffs

The original painting I sold, of a Steampunk Girl named Althea. I used real gold ;)

I'm just waiting for my camera battery to finish charging, and I'll add in some photos of the ear drops. :) I hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

*Just a shout out to all of the folks who might read my blog or admire my work:
If you're an aspiring artist, jewelry maker, or want to start a creative business, feel free to ask me questions. I love to help others in any way I can, so I'd love to hear from you. Just leave a comment on a post. ^_^

Art Business - thoughts, plans, insecurities

Today feels like one of those 'what am I doing, where am I going?' days.

I feel a bit insecure about my art - am I painting what people want to see? Am I painting something that is worthy of a dollar sign? All I know is that when I put my paintings on the wall to dry, I smile when I wake up and see them. They make me feel happy, so hopefully there's some people out there that feel the same way.

My audience has grown quite a bit in the last month (now up to over 1500 fans on facebook, which feels pretty awesome if I do say so myself), but I'm not sure how to sell stuff to them. I don't want to come off pushy, or fake, or something, if that makes sense... I don't want to use some marketing trick to try and get sales. I want people to fall in love with my art, and let their hearts make the purchase... I know, it sounds cheesy, but it's how I feel.

I suppose the first step is to actually make some art available for sale. I'll have some of these originals ready very soon, so that will be a start. If they sell, I can fix my printer and then start to offer some prints, and see what happens.

I've also been meaning to look up publishing opportunities in books, magazines, and in art blogs and online zines. I also need to save to get an ipod touch so that I can join instagram and meet some new arty folks on there.

I've also been thinking of seperating my fine art and illustration business (which I've named after myself), and my Bohemian Faerie business (which is focused on wire jewelry and other items for other faes out there). So I'd have two different shops for them - for my art and prints, I'd sell it directly on my website, and for my Bohemian Faerie items, I'd sell that on etsy. I don't know though, there's a lot to think about. What do you guys think I should do?

I'll leave you with an update of my artwork in progress, and something that popped into my head just as I was dozing off last night...

"if I paint it, they will come."

Wire Wrapped Jewelry

For those who have been following my work in blogland & on etsy, you may know my main shop as 'Neckline Designz', where I sell my handmade jewelry.

Well last night I had the urge to change everything... So I did! Neckline Designz, will now be known as 'the Bohemian Faerie'. A place for all of us quirky, imaginative folks, to find items as unique as ourselves.

I've also incorporated a nature element to my new look on my blog & shop (brushes credited here). I feel a sense of peace when I'm walking through the forest, surrounded by greenery, and a fresh scent of plant life in the air. I felt like my love of nature needed to be incorporated into my blog & shop designs.

A lovely flower bracelet. I hand-gilt the flower with my own colour blend of Gilder's Paste.

A hand hammered, copper spiral pendant.

Spirals represent many things in many different cultures, all of them seem to be very positive meanings. For the Celts, it can represent energy radiating inward, or radiating outward. This pendant feels like energy radiating inward, to me. Like it's capturing and flowing strength into the wearer. The triple spiral represents the goddess, 'growth, birth, and expansion', and also in some areas, the Holy Trinity in Christianity. It's interesting how the same symbols can mean different things to different cultures (like the Swastika for Indians versus Nazi's). 

A little fire element ear cuff. Please excuse the chipped polish & random scratch lol.

Hmm.. what will these feathers be used for?

Below are some pieces from our other shop, Sparrows Trove. 

An enchanting silver locket, with a skeleton key.

Three swallows flying together.

Stunning, gold filigree earrings.

Beautiful blue glass stones.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into the my business happenings!

I was thinking of actually making some posts specifically about creating an independent business. Would anyone be interested in reading something like that?

Fairy Bridal Party Ear Cuffs

The fairy bridal party ear cuffs are officially finished, photographed, and ready to be sent to Australia!

The bride will be wearing the centered ear cuffs (Moonstone, Swarovski Crystals, and glass leaves), while the two bridesmaids will be wearing the sets on either side.

I tend to use natural light for my photographs (as in light pouring in through a window), but today has been really grey and rainy, and even a little dark, which made the pictures a bit darker than I would have liked.

Bridal Ear Cuffs >> Click image to enlarge

Jumbled goodness!

Honey looking curious! :3

Red bridal ear cuffs. These ones make me think of cherries.

Cherry Red Ear Cuffs

All of my ear cuffs lined in a row!

Amethyst purple Ear Cuffs

Ear Cuffs packaged in gift boxes

I hope they like their ear cuffs! I can't decide which is my favourite... Which pair is yours?

My Etsy Jewelry Packaging

I love packaging. Make that, ADORE packaging (which is like a radical, obsessive love infatuation party). Don't you love it when you get an order in the mail and the shop owner/artist put extra love and care into their packaging? It almost feels like a bonus gift to me!

A lot of handmade shop owners (esp. Etsy Jewelry, and handmade crafts), have such whimsical, quirky, & interesting packaging, that they've designed themselves. I was inspired by many of the shop owners out there to design some of my own card backings (printed on recycled paper), for my small jewelry orders (like ear cuffs, earrings, rings, etc..).  

Handmade Copper Ear Cuffs

I designed the card backings in Photoshop 7. I used what appeared to be a royalty free image of a Paisley pattern, for the background (I intend on redoing the Paisley design myself when I get the chance just in case). And then, using the pen tool, traced out the profile of a woman's face from this stock image. I really didn't like the results of the traced profile, and instead started over, using the photo more as a visual inspiration for how I wanted the profile view to look. I have to also comment on how gorgeous the model from the stock photo is. She's pure inspiration. 

Wire Wrapped Copper Ear Cuffs

I love the jumbled look of all of the little copper ear cuffs dangling off of the card backing. I think it makes a really interesting composition in and of itself. Each ear cuff is attached carefully by hand, by punching a small hole with a pin into the card back, and tying it on with wire. It does take time to put each little cuff on, but I think it makes for unique packaging and presentation.

Jewelry Packaging - Copper Ear Cuffs

Then for the final touch - a sheer white organza bag! It really brings a touch of gifty whimsy to the whole enchilada. I designed the cards to fit perfectly into these specific tiny organza bags, though you can't really tie the drawstrings, lol.

Here are some photos of some of my other ear cuffs in varying states of packaged-ment.

A Very Elegant Elven Ear Cuff with a glass leaf. Unfortunately this design has sold out. 

Two lovely Ear Cuffs, perfect fantasy jewelry for Elves and Faeries

A Copper Steampunk Inspired Ear Cuff

A perfect ear cuff for a little woodland Fae

Hope you liked this little peek at my packaging design!

Fantasy Jewelry Inspired by Mystical Woodlands

Tonight I made some new ear cuffs. These are very much inspired by nature, mystical woodlands, and Elves of course!

For this ear cuff I used three glass leaf beads, two were tints of green, and the other is clear and iridescent. For a little extra touch, I also added a faceted iridescent lilac purple Swarovski Crystal.  The spirals are made out of copper wire, which I twisted and shaped by hand using various pliers.

Buy it here: Elven Ear Cuff

Elven Ear Cuff Fantasy Jewelry

A sweet Elven Priestess Ear Cuff

This ear cuff below is much simpler in design, light, and dainty. This is the dark green version; it also comes in light green, and blue. I think these are a perfect casual accessory, that dangles, but doesn't get in the way. 

Buy it here: Dangly Forest Faerie Ear Cuff

A forest Elf Ear Cuff

Fantasy Jewelry, Forest Elf Ear Cuff

Faerie Ear Drops & Precious Things

These are my pretty, dangly ear drops. :)

They fit really nicely on the ear, and the balance and weight of the spirals and beads keeps it on the ear. I'd like to try making some with little bells next. 

Here are two ear drops I've made. The first, is out of copper, and the second is silver plated.

I started making ear cuffs (and now ear drops as well), because I don't like wearing regular earrings. One of my ears was pierced on an angle, making it really difficult to get the earring in. Also, after only a few hours of wearing earrings, my ears get super itchy and irritated. I would never dream of wearing earrings overnight - my ears would probably be giant red puff balls. 

So I started tinkering around with copper wire, and came up with easy to wear ear cuffs, that that look pretty and don't irritate my ears.  

If anyone is interested in owning their own lovely Fae ear drop, let me know! I will charge $25 + shipping cost. 

Copper Ear Drop - makes me think of Egyptian Queens,
endless desert vistas, and sandstone palaces. Perfect for the gypsy in us all.

A little detail of the bottom part of the ear drop. You can see the
hammered spiral, a large bi-cone crystal with Aurora Borealis shimmer,
as well as the wire twisting around the beads above it.

There is something so wonderful about spirals.

My favourite ear drop. It dangles so beautifully. ^_^

A sweet little antique silver Faerie Charm.

My actual tools of the trade. When you use a hammer, you have to have
hard surface to hammer against, that won't crack or get indents (glass,
plastic and wood won't work). The hammering stone was out of my budget,
so I ended up finding a beautiful, flat, smooth stone, and am using that to
hammer against. It's a rather primitive idea, and I like the simplicity of it.
Sometimes I imagine that the stone will be discovered 20,000 years from now,
and archaeologists will see that someone hammered against it to make
jewelry. Very neat ^_^

Blue Lace Agate Pendant

I'm just having one of those days - it's rainy and gloomy outside, I feel drained, my head hurts... I want to sleep.    *yawn* and it's only 7pm. I know that by the time 10pm hits, I'll be wide awake. I'm such a night owl. I work so much better at night. Do you guys work better in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night?

I finished packing sending a bunch of orders and took them to the post office. It always amazes me the different people who order from me, their interesting names and street names, and the diverse parts of the world they come from. It always amazes me to think of how many lives we small business owners touch, even in the smallest of ways.

I recently sent out orders to France, Florida, Washington, and Georgia. I hope to visit each one of these places one day. (I have been fortunate to visit France, but have not seen Paris).

Before I pass out, I'll leave you with a photo of my newest pendant. I'm very proud of this one. I hand twisted everything (with pliers of course), designed it all myself, and then hammered the wire, and weaved it together with thin wire. I even made the bail too! (the part that connects the pendant to the chain). This piece took quite a while to make, and I'm very pleased with it. It'll end up in my shop tomorrow or the day after, but it's a piece I'd love to keep for myself, hehe.. Oh, and the stones are Blue Lace Agate - my favourite semi-precious stone. I'd love to hear what you guys think of this design. :)

Night Night!

Hand Hammered Pendant
Materials: Silver plated wire & chain, Blue Lace Agate 

A close up shot of the details. <3

Glass Leaf Beads & other Pretty Things

Hello Lovelies!

Forest Elf Ear Cuff

I've been selling quite a few of these ear cuffs lately - simple silver wire, with a glass leaf dangling at the bottom - and I've started running out of the leaves. I contacted my supplier, who I bought the leaves from several years back, and found out they've stopped selling them! I searched online, but to no avail. So sadly, it seems that only a few more of these will be made, and then the twisted leaf will be gone for good.

They will however be replaced by some of the new leaves I purchased today. I'm excited to try out some new shades of green and turquoise, and new shapes of leaf. I think they will be perfect for my Elven Fae Ear Cuffs. :)

A deep forest green glass leaf

A light olive green glass leaf

An unusual turquoise blue glass leaf

I was on shopping roll and got a few more things while I was at it.

Pink Opalite 

Antiqued Bronze Ferns

White Rondelles with Lilac Finish

Gorgeous Blue Tear Drop Crystals

I'm really excited to get to work with these new materials. I find the colours and textures just so inspiring!
This is just the beginning though - my mother and I have a huge plan in the works, that we hope to share with you in a couple of months time. Until then, it's top secret! :P