15% to Preble Street

From November 13th to November 19th participating Etsy Maine Team shops are donating 15% of their sales to Preble Street an organization in Portland, Maine which provides accessible, barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty. To see all the shops participating, please check out our team blog here.

As an extra incentive, if you purchase during this time, you will be automatically entered in a drawing to win the earrings pictured above. Shop for the holidays, get a chance to win a pair of lovely hoops, and help those in need in the process! A win/win for all!!

New Work

Week 2 of the Maine Team challenge. List 5 items each week until the challenge is over and be entered to win a gift package full of Maine Team goodies! I should have paced the listing apart this week, but I had no time/energy/patience to photograph until today! Regardless, week 2 is complete and my shop is looking good for the upcoming shopping season.

cuff with vintage button

double circlet earrings

sprout earrings

vintage button duo ring

button cascade necklace

My first outside, 2 day show...all over! Honestly, I am exhausted. For that reason, I will be short with words today.

Friday: set up... slanted venue, horrendous parking, lack of direction, forgotten tools. However, the tent was up, the heavy things hauled to the site by my husband, and we were finished ahead of schedule.

Saturday, Day 1: Rain, leaks, fog, wet feet, port-a-potties, sales (!!!), schooners, new friends, dogs, wool socks, excellent help (thanks Mom!), and a few odd people here and there.

Day 2, Sunday: Sunshine, warmth, dry feet, wind gusts, broken glass display, reorganization, sales (!!!!), more new friends, open tent, warm breezes, and gorgeous views.

All in all, it was a successful show. I had no expectations, made my booth fee and then some, received many compliments, and learned a thing or two about set-up, break down, and that force called wind!

New Rings

Introducing my new collection: the Candy Dish. This is a 'rings only' collection: colorful vintage plastic and glass buttons and stackable, too! Many of these lovely buttons came from Nicole at Brizel Supplies.

However, I will not be selling these in my Etsy shop until October. For now, they will appear at Roots and Tendrils in Belfast, Maine starting in June and the 2 craft shows I'm doing this summer/fall:

HarborArts Arts and Crafts Show

Camden, Maine

July 18-19

Common Ground Country Fair

Thorndike, Maine

September 25, 26, 27

MPBN Auction

I grew up watching public television...Sesame Street, Zoom, The Electric Company, and the kind, but quirky Mr. Rogers. As I matured into a teen, I still enjoyed the programing. My favorites then? Cooking with Julia, The Victory Garden, Nova. Skipping to today, it's more about what my daughter wants to watch (and, really, do I have the luxurious time to plunk down in front of the tube...nope). Curious George, Martha Speaks, Caillou, and Word Girl top Annabelle's must-see shows on public Television.

MPBN (Maine Public Broadcasting Network), the very channel that saw me through all those formative years, is holding their ever-popular fundraising auction. The Etsy Maine Team donated an excellent grouping of fine wares for this special event. A big thanks to Lizzy of Lizzyoos for her time and leadership in preparing this auction item.


The earrings I donated are sort of hidden behind the stoneware fish! I looked for a picture of them....no such luck in finding one, but I'll search again later!

The Bees in my Bonnet

I'm always sketching designs that pop into my head...in my sketchbook, on note paper, napkins, the back of receipts. Usually, for the most part, those images and creations from my inner artist progress no further than a rough scribble or two on paper. However, this pendant made it into the three dimensional world. Ah, satisfaction. Now, I'm determined to make one design from my stash of sketches every week. Wish me luck and send a babysitter.

Also, my super fantabulous friend, Jes, featured me and this pendant in her new column on Indie Public. Jes' column is titled "She Dreams of Art" and in this installment featured a few of my Maine Team peeps including Kellie of Wordy Smith and Bob from Heron Cove Woodcarving. When you are reading my bit in her column, I apologize for the annoying, repetitive use of the exclamation point. That's a habit I certainly need to break.

Lastly, remember my post about photographing with props?? If not, you can find it here. Well, I scoured my house for interesting textures and colors. In the back of my china cabinets, I found my collection of rust old cheese and nutmeg graters (thanks to Martha Stewart's Halloween issue 3 years ago...I HAD to buy all of the graters at our local antique mall to achieve a spooky "tablescape"). The dots of back light through the grater holes and the warm rust colors may be just the element I need in my photos.

Purses with Purpose, etc.

The Portland, Maine Ronald McDonald will host the fourth annual "Purses with Purpose, etc" this coming June. Rather than a fundrasier, this event has been dubbed a fun-raiser! This brooch is my donation to the cause.

A vintage (of course!) mother of pearl button set in an ornate sterling silver bezel with a hand-forged heart sewn on with palladium wire, accented with ruby beads. I hope this brooch fetches a generous amount for a very worthy cause!

ACEO?

OK, I admit it, until 2 days ago I was in the dark about ACEO's. I've seen that term everywhere on Etsy, but interested I was not. Etsy Maine Team put together a challenge to design a create an ACEO with a Maine theme utilizing some recycled or upcycled materials...still wondering what the heck an ACEO is...click here.

Being a good little soldier for my team and having a child who has been on the couch with the sniffles (read: not running around, getting into everything, with me trailing behind her), I took some time to crank out my very first ACEO! So, here's a few shots of mine. Crafted in metal (of course), embossed by hand, oxidized with torch flame, and antiqued with India ink.

Materials: recycled copper flashing, recycled matte board, copper wire, India ink

Podcast

A few weeks ago, Etsy Maine Team members, Jamie, Kim, and I, joined Kathy Williamson (owner of www.micromaine.com) for some lively conversation at the Liberal Cup in Hallowell. She interviewed us all about our online shops, Etsy, blogging, photography...and we chatted her ear off! Previous to our date, she interviewed another team member and friend, Jes, about her Etsy experiences. To listen to the entire podcast, click here.

The pic? New work...stay tuned!

Good Vibes

Drea's cupcakes...oh yummy!

When the stars and planets align to create positive energy, I'm always first in line to absorb it up like a sponge! Last night, Etsy Maine Team members and twins Jamie and Joy hosted craft night (make this part of your New Year's resolutions...host a craft night immediately...the world would be a happier place if more people came together to chat and create!!!) at their Sweetland Retreat....a gorgeous cape farmhouse that they are magically transforming into a bed and breakfast!!! Chatting, laughing, singing, squealing, eating, crafting, eating again, more chatting. Just a lovely night for a gathering! In attendance: Drea, Kim, Peggy, Jamie, Joy, and me!

Dioramas by Kim...more about this in a later post!

Quench needlework!

After returning home from our craft night, I received this email. In short, the following excerpt beautifully summarizes why I create jewelry:

Hi Jen, Someone has already written the story, "The Necklace," I am quite certain. But here is my version. Jen was shocked when she opened her beautiful little package. She even commented on the wrappings and how pretty the tissue
paper was. Then when she saw it, she was couldn't believe it. She was speechless for a second, and then just kept saying she couldn't believe it, and we shouldn't have done that. (All the while clutching it to her.) She wore it several times while home and said she got many compliments. It was very pretty
on her. So, thank you again for creating such a unique treasure for us to give Jennifer.

This is the necklace! A worthy receiver and a generous giver. Both lovely souls who urged me to return to jewelry making! Many heart-felt thank you's to you both for your support, enthusiasm, and good taste :)!

To top off all this good karma, I had a sale today from my friend, Jes! Ah, I'm floating! Here's a good helping of positive energy for you all this evening! ~~throwing good karma dust into the virtual world~~

Holiday Show Recap

Our first (and hopefully annual) Etsy Maine Team Holiday Craft Show was a hit with shoppers who dared to venture out on a frigid, icy Saturday! Team members displayed their very best: functional and decorative woodware, felted sculptures, upcycled home decor, jewelry creations in glass, vintage beads, mixed media, and metal, stoneware, pen and ink drawings, and lovely fabric items from children's hats to journals. Plans are in the works for more shows in 2009! Here's some pics of the wonderfully creative items displayed!

Quench Metalworks

Heron Cove Wood Carving

Suzee's Jubilees

Wordy Smith



Pamela's Prints

Karhu Moon

Helping Hands Pottery

Three Bridges Sewing Company

It's December?

Wow, this year has accelerated! What happened to autumn? Where did the sun go? Yikes! Guess what we woke to this morning? S-N-O-W. This is our first snowfall this season that "stuck". A fitting way to start the first of December (however, waking to sunny skies and 65 degrees would have been fine with me, too).



I logged in many studio hours this weekend, preparing inventory for a upcoming show. One of life's great thrills, in my opinion, is crossing off items on a 'to do' list. My pen did overtime! I plan to list a few of these items on Etsy and save some for the craft show.

This was another great thrill for me: I was notified this morning that I am the Etsy Maine Team Artist of the Month! I'm grateful, excited, humbled, elated, dumbfounded...just tickled pink! Thank you Maine Team!!! You can check out the blog here. I wrote 2 articles for the blog in November...check them out!

Lastly, how can it NOT be December...look what we brought home! Family tradition indicates that we MUST get our tree the day after Thanksgiving, and so we did. No, it is not up yet...maybe on Wednesday. Wishing you all a happy, peaceful December.

my little family

'Tis the Season Preview

A cold and quiet evening here in Maine. I'm avoiding the studio and blogging instead! The temperature is 20 degrees and falling. Yikes! Winter will soon arrive. The pics below are a few winter/holiday themed items I'm creating for the Etsy Maine Team Holiday Challenge. I'm not sure why its called a 'challenge'...its more of a promotional tool.

That little 3 tiered guy is my minimalistic snowman.

Red coral and pearl cluster, the best colors for the season.

My version of snowfall...sorry for the yellow tint. This is a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L piece.

Italian wool cowl

When I'm not working in metal, I am knitting. This has been an on again, off again hobby of mine for 7 years. I have a shameful amount of fine Italian yarn stashed in all corners of our home. This funky, colorful Italian wool will be a shaggy cowl when finished (I have unraveled it twice...don't ask).

5 Helpful Items from my week:

1. hand lotion

2. mouse traps

3. hats

4. chamomile tea with honey

5. my flex-shaft

How about you?

In a Treasury!

My Etsy Maine Team mate Kim from Claypatties included one of my pendants in her treasury titled "mood". So fitting for the season we are in. Dark afternoons, barren trees, All Hallow's Eve, crumbling vines, dying gardens...ah, October is good.

My Website is Done!

About 5 minutes ago, we (my dearest friend, Tony and I) finally finished my website, Quench Metalworks. It has been a LONG process as neither of us are web designers. However, I'm thrilled with the end product. Woo hoo for us! To celebrate, we sip white wine and will watch Larry King Live. We really should go out on the town, but, alas, this is the country and a Subway shop is "the" spot on a Monday night (or Tuesday or Wednesday...you get the idea).

Yesterday, I became a memeber of the Etsy Maine Team! I am anxious to start networking with everyone involved (70+ members). I really need a mentor, for both online and offline business, so I plan to nab a willing soul, asap. I have limited business savvy and will cherish all the help that comes my way. When at Etsy, please check out our page http://www.maineteam.etsy.com/ for links to all member's shops. Truly amazing items!

I spent some quiet time in the studio today doing lots of soldering. I should have new items listed on Etsy in a few days. Look for several 'jangle bangles' or 'dangle bangles' or 'charming bangles'...can you tell that I can't decide on a name...also, a brooch, a very lovely pendant with a handmade chain (this is reason for all the soldering), and a ring or two.

Cheers!

Living and working, podunk style

Today, among other things, was my deadline to list items in my Etsy shop (http://www.quenchmetalworks.etsy.com/) The first EVER items in my Etsy shop to be exact. In order to do this correctly, I had a hefty list to complete this morning...run to the bank, get ribbon, felt, and tissue for packaging, open a credit account in order to proceed with Paypal (still not completely convinced that Paypal is good for businesses), buy ink for the printer, and lunch with a friend visiting from Arizona (well, lunch didn't have anything to do with my Etsy shop, but it was on the list).

I woke early with the dogs, had my coffee, and prepared for my day. Then the phone buzzes. My day has a snag! My husband went to work with the carseat in his vehicle. Stranded we are! We are a good distance from anything related to my list so walking will not do. So, I pushed back my deadline to October 8th and reworked my day and week. Note to self: buy another carseat, asap.