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!

CAKE

Today is my birthday. If I could, I would sit down in front of the TV, watch runs of some guilty pleasure show, and eat this cake! Wouldn't that be a celebration! But, let's focus on the painting....the brush strokes look almost as decadent as the subject. Buttercream or french cream? Flavored lightly with orange or lemon, perhaps? Mmmm...oops, thinking of cake again! For more yummy treats, check out Blue Mango's Etsy shop here. I adore the pastry pieces, the warm palette, and the simple composition. Thank you for providing me with a taste of virtual cake, Blue Mango!!

Fluffing the Shop

I conquered a snarky graphics program on my PC (grrrr...) to make a more professional banner for my Esty shop. As a do-it-yourselfer, I'm quite tickled with the results. The bottom banner was the winner. Oh, and by the way, I had eight total, but only burdened you with three. Now, if I could just settle on a look for my blog....

I've been tweaking, fluffing, and virtually dusting the shop this week. I reshot a bunch of items with efforts to creating more visually appealing listings and to change the background color to gray on many items. I still would like to add props...but what? Wooden spools, stones, rusty washers, dioramas, sewing notions? The challenge is to commit to a theme/ or story with my work. ~sigh~ Not an easy task as my work embodies vastly differently expressions from my life's journeys. Perhaps a road map or chart would be in order....hmmm.

Another new listing! A 3 bangle piece from the Dot Collection! I LOVE THIS! If I didn't list it, you can imagine where it would be right now...dangling from my wrist and banging against this keyboard, of course!

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~~

New Listings

I'll be adding these pieces to my shop in the next few days. I have several vintage button pendants (besides the one above) that will join their kin as well!

Sketches

I sketch. I draw. I smudge. I doodle. I plan. I diagram. On these many bits of paper and vellum are designs that number well into the hundreds. I dare not think of the percentage that have graduated from paper to metal....a very, very low success rate indeed! However, I continue to sketch, noting which may become actual pieces and crossing off the unfortunate few who will never make the cut.

Happy 2009!

Ah, at last, a new year. A new calendar, a fresh slate, a season for resolutions. Time to clean the studio, finish commissions, and work on some new pieces (like this pendant from my new collection, Dot).

2008 was a super eventful year for Quench Metalworks. I started my business, worked diligently whenever possible, had sales (yes!), started this blog, and forged many new and old friendships! My expectations are great for 2009. Here's wishing you all a healthy and prosperous new year.