Pretty Pretties

I've been a busy girl. In addition to obsessing about BlogHer, I've actually been making jewelry.

Today I actually listed some pieces:



Black Lace



Sunstone Circles

I also redid the pictures on these listings:



Pearl Clusters



Amethyst Circles

Bag It

I am currently obsessing about BlogHer. You've already heard me whine about what to wear. I won't go into that again, suffice it to say I am going to bring everything in my closet to Chicago with me.

I made a list of all of the things I need to take with me so I wouldn't forget anything important. One of the first things on my list was my laptop. Its a blogging conference so I'll need to have my laptop. But what am I going to carry it in?

I have the sleeve that came with it. It is very utilitarian and functional. In other words, it is black and ugly but it protects the laptop. But it doesn't have a handle so I'd have to carry it in something, a purse or bag.

Or I could find a new, snazzy carrying case. Yes that sounds much better. And during a quick perusal of Etsy I found these.

The Orangina from Mareri. It also comes in mustard, lime, midnight blue, periwinkle and lilac.



This beauty from Track and Field.


This great messenger bag from Sinem Inugur.


The Maiden Dove tote from majkatree.


Or I could just make one like the swanky suitcase bag by Jennifer Perkins on the Craftzine blog.

Busy, Busy

In eight days I leave for the blogging conference, BlogHer. I will be meeting bloggers from all over the country. Bloggers who I read and "know". Bloggers who I read and admire. And bloggers who I have not yet discovered.

I am relatively new to the blogging game having only started But Why Mommy last May. Many (okay 99%) of the bloggers won't know who I am. I need/want to make a good impression.

In order to make said good impression, I am going to be very busy for the next few days. There are clothes and shoes to buy. Pedicures to be had. Business cards to order. But most importantly I want to make a good impression where it counts, here (and there). I also want to get my Etsy shop in good shape.

So over the next few days, I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to make jewelry, post it here, get it in the store. I hope that you like what you see.

Hot, Hot, Hot

(This necklace will be added to the shop later today. It is a larger version of the necklace in the giveaway. )

Summer has finally arrived in my corner of the world. It apparently has decided to come in full force, August-type weather, with the sun and humidity competing to see who can be more wicked.

When its like this, I just try and survive. We don't have central air in our house, which normally isn't a problem but now it is. There are a few cool pockets here and there, usually right in front of a window air unit or fan. But you can't spend all day in front of an air conditioner (believe me I've tried), you have to get on with the business of life.

So one of my favorite (air conditioned) places to go when its like this is the library. The library is great for so many reasons but most of all for free books. I can pick up some new books for my daughter and a few Charlaine Harris books for me (I love watching True Blood so I picked up her books and love them too, perfect summer reading).

I have also started perusing the art and craft books the library has. I've recently picked up Altered Art by Terry Taylor. I put Kelly Rae Roberts book Taking Flight on reserve and can't wait to get it. I love these kind of books because they really spark my imagination. I get so many ideas and I can't wait to try them out, even if they are just for play. And I will, once I get a new fan for the studio.

Business is Business

except when there is no busniess.

My poor Etsy shop. It has been langishing in a virtual wasteland for more than a year. I haven't had the time or energy to devote to it, so it just sits there untouched and unloved. And because I haven't visited it, no one else has visisted it either. So it's not much of a business. Its more of a placeholder, a placeholder with some pretty things.

But what if I did something novel, something unheard of (at least in these parts)? What if I began to use my store in the way it was intended. What if I actually listed things, pretty things? What if I took clear pictures of those pretty things? What if I cleaned up the store and filled it with the things that I love?

Would people visit? Would people love the pretty things the way that I love them? Would (fingers and toes crossed) people actually buy those pretty things?

Well there is only one way of finding out. I'm just going to have to do it and see what happens. The piece above is my first try.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway. Just click on the link in the side bar. The giveaway runs through June 26th.

Day 22 - Out of Focus

There are so many more things I would like to add to my shop but I have a focus issue. Every time I try and take pictures of my jewelry, they always end up blurry, and blurry doesn't sell.

I spent about three hours yesterday taking pictures of jewelry. I tried different aprroaches, close up, far away, trying to get the focus right. But it didn't quite work out.

The pictures would all look fine on my camera. I would zoom in and out on the photo to make sure it looked fine and it did. But when I got it downloaded on the computer and into my editing software, the edges were blurry. You couldn't tell if there were any special details to the piece, it just looked fuzzy.

I know that the majority of this is due to my camera. I have a point and shoot that serves me well in most instances but not when it comes to photographing my jewelry. I want a new camera. And if I'm serious about making a go of this, I need a new camera.

But part of me can't bring myself to get one. And its not just due to price. You see I am emotionally attached to my camera. There is a story behind how I got the camera, a story that is so tied to who I am. My husband and I were in China to adopt our daughter and the day before we were supposed to see her for the first time, our camera broke. What could have been a complete distaster was saved by our guide who helped us buy our camera just a few hours before we met Bunny.

How can I move on? This camera was there for the most important day of my life. Its a part of me. But it is also holding me back. I make beautiful jewelry that I would love to show the world, but my camera won't let me.

So here I sit with a pile of jewelry that just doesn't photograph well. I keep on trying, thinking maybe if I try this or that it will work. But it doesn't. I know that I need to bite the bullet and get a new camera. Someday . . .

Day 21 - New Jewelry Up

I've been making jewelry for the past few days and thought it was time to finally add a few to my shop.

The first are a pair of earrings I made on Monday. I've made these before and have always loved the way they look. The flower stone is a ruby jade and the leaves are vintage glass.




Second I added some earrings I made yesterday. They are labordorite drops with small loops made of labordorite. I love how the twisted wire effect that makes the loops look like small leaves or petals.

I hope to be adding some more pieces to the shop in the coming days.

Day 20 - Possible Listing?

After I made those earrings over the weekend, I got back into the groove. Making jewlery just seemed right again. I made a few more earrings yesterday. I also made a necklace.

I'm not going to put any pictures up today because I think I'm going to list them in my shop tomorrow. So stay tuned.

Day 15 - Cold

Its cold here in Wisconsin. Well I guess that is a bit redundant because it is Wisconsin in the wintertime so of course its cold. What I mean to say is it is downright frigid outside, like we are living in a giant freezer.

So what do you do when its cold? You stay inside under a blanket and sip hot tea. And of course you research vacations to tropical locales which you of course cannot afford.

So then I ususally turn to the next best thing, looking for things to keep me warm. I have discovered a host of wonderful knitwear makers on Etsy. Seeing these fabulous designs make winter seem not that bad, even though it really is.

The first designer is Melissahappystuff. She makes the most wonderful hats. I bought one of her hats last year and it made me so happy every time I put it on. Unforunately I lost it yesterday, so now I have to find a new creation of hers. Maybe this one?



The second designer whose creations I covet is Fringe. One look at the gorgeous cowls and neck cozies and you know you'll be warm no matter the weather. This one is currently my favorite.


I also love the capelets in part because they harken back to a simpler era and in part because they are just so beautiful. I'm thinking this one would be a nice addition to my wardrobe.



Above I've also shown the piece I started yesterday, its a long scarf with a wave pattern on the edges. I haven't decided how thin it will be. I guess we'll just see how it goes.

I've also shown a scarf I did last year with a different wave or ruffle pattern. I just love it. The color is a lovely taupe with a hint of metalic. Unfortunately the metalic in the yarn makes it a bit itchy for every day wear, so its more of a special occasion scarf for now.