Featured at Sunshine Farm Girls Co-Op

Woot woot! This is going to be short and sweet today.  I'm excited to announce that my 

Red Oriental Glass Dangle Earrings 

are featured this week in the Sunshine Farm Girls Co-op's treasury of RED items.  The earrings are $12 and I am offering free shipping on all my items in my Bohemian Art Cafe Etsy shop through August 10th.

The Sunshine Farm Girls Co-op is a group of artists and crafts people who share a common interest in developing an ideology of items hand made by the artists rather than manufactured by big business.  The lovely thing about buying from artists is the care and genuine interest they take in creating their art and items. 

I would say that most, if not all of us, do art because we simply cannot not do art. (Yes, I know that's a double negative, but it's just the way it has to come out.)

We offer discounts, special offers, and sampler packs.  It is a fabulous way for us artisans to work at thriving and a terrific way for the supporters of artists and crafters to get great deals and great gifts/items.

(c) SZing, Vintage Enamel Daisy upcycled adjustable ring on silver plated ring shank. 
$15, with free shipping through August 10th.


I've just added some new rings to my shop and will be continuing to add new items every few days. 

It's only 144 days to do Christmas so that means you have 143 days and about 14 hours left to do Holiday shopping, ...126 until Chanukah...145 days until Kwanzaa and for those of the Muslim faith, only  83 until Eid ul-Fitr.  As for those of everyon, including athiests, everyday above ground is a day to celebrate! (sorry, I had to. :-)...and almost all of my items are perfect gifts for that special MOM, WIFE, SISTER, DAUGHTER, FRIEND, TEACHER OR ADMIN. ASSISTANT.  Also some great gift items for the artist or crafter in your life. 

(c)SZing, Aqua Sea Glass beads wire wrapped ring, sized 9.5,
$18, with free shipping through August 10th

(I do make pay in advance special orders if you want a different color or size!)

I'm also hoping to add some wood turned items to help with the male gift giving.  Come by and get a great gift with free shipping this week.  And check out the Sunshine Farm Girls Co-Op.  I'm very excited to be a part of this lively and active group of artists and crafters.

(c) SZing, 2012.

Five Things I Love About Technology

Okay, I know I complain sometimes about the pitfalls of technology (viruses, Trojans and malware--Oh My!), but in the long run, I really love so many things that my computer, software and the Internet provide.  Like my Etsy shop BohemianArtCafe.

(c)SZing Pink and white hand painted on wood and wire wrapped pendant 2" x 2".  $30.

So here's my David Lettermanesque list:

#5.  Information--I love browsing and being able to follow links, quickly look up definitions and find other artists and their work.  Yesterday, having a memory fart, I looked up "subsume" because for the life of me I couldn't access it despite trying to force my synapsi to work harder. (is synapsi a word? perhaps I'll look that up online.)

 (c)SZing Koi fish fused transfer fused into opaque glass necklace.  $20.

#4.  Not having to write long hand--even though for my journals I still do and I have this undeniable fear that I should continue to write everything or print hard copies (my need to go paperless fights this) in case technology fails or, as it inevitably will, changes and I lose my "stuff."  I'm a much faster typist that writist. 

(c)SZing Beautiful turquoise and aqua dichroic glass on black glass with wire wrapping pendant.  $20.

#3.  Access to friends via email and social networking.  I'm growing to love using Facebook for example, just to see what people are up to and get a break from unpacking the studio.  Also so cool to catch up with people I haven't seen or heard from in years, as well as to make new connections with friends I hope to meet soon.

#2.  It's quick, it's (mostly) easy to learn and use, it makes me feel connected no matter where I go (okay, okay, I know some people call this the leash-syndrome.)  I LIKE knowing that if I need info or to reach someone all I have to do is pull out my cell phone.

(c)SZing A large variety of pierced earrings.  Some are glass beads, some are not. 

All are fun and beautiful to wear and very affordable at $12 a pair.

 (c) SZing Charming butterfly earrings.  $12.

#1.  Etsy, Ebay and Pinterest.  Wow, wow and wow.  Oh, and did I forget Amazon? 

(c)SZing REVERSIBLE (yes, two sides for the price of one!) stained glass necklace. 

 Butterflies on one side, flowers on the other.  $20 with chain.

Speaking of Etsy, I just uploaded a bunch of my jewelry and a few other non-jewelry art pieces and supplies to my shop, BohemianArtCafe.   Please come and shop, like my shop, tweet and re-tweet, share the link to the shop with others.  Not having a public venue studio as I used to, I'm having to rely more on virtual storefronts. I appreciate your help in this. Muchos gracias!! 

 

(c)SZing REVERSIBLE (yes, two sides for the price of one!) stained glass necklace.

Pink and blue abstraction on one side, yellow and blue abstraction on the other.  $20 with chain.

Time to Make the Donuts....

Livin' the Dream!  Stayed up very late (early) taking photos, cropping and resizing them for posting on my website, Etsy and Ebay.  This process of selling requires dedication and while I MUCH prefer the face time of a shop or studio where people come in, chat, look, try on, buy....this methodology is also a part of the new Bohemian Art Cafe way since we don't HAVE a public location to sell from at this time...

If you see something you like and want to buy, you can email me (include your name and mailing address!) and I'll send you a paypal invoice, which will include shipping/handling of $5.50 each or if you buy more than one item, $5.50 for the first item and $3.25 for each additional item s/h.  You pay, I send. :-)  They will be posted on Etsy within the next week.

(c) SZing Live Your Dreams Charm bracelet.  Each charm is

soldered to stay on the bracelet.  Bracelet is 8" long.  $28

(c)SZing  In honor of Independence Day, some cute red glass,

white (clear and silver beads) and blue bead drop earrings.  $12.

(c)SZing  This may be TMI, but a butterfly will be the next tattoo

I get, in honor of transformations (plan to have it done on my

left hand in bright colors.)  These charming butterflies with

irridescent purple/green/blue beads are adorable drop earrings.  $12.

 (c)SZing  This charming koi charm pendant is a fused transfer

on opaque white glass cabochon.  Sweet & adorable.

$20 with 16" snake chain.

(c) Szing  The lime green glass sets off this irridescent

purple patterned dichroic glass well.  Pendant is 2" from top 

of bail to bottom and 7/8" wide.  Include 16" snake chain.

$20.

 (c)SZing  I love orange.  Who knew?  This is a textural piece...

the two bars of orange glass and the black center piece are

tack fused meaning they have not completely lost their own

dimensionality into the base glass.  (My frustrated quilter

takes over my studio now and then).  Includes 16" snake

chain.  Pendant is 2" long x 1" wide.  $20.

 (c)Szing This is a green, turquoise and metallics painted pendant

that is lacquered.  Pendant is 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square.  Includes 16"

snake chain.  $20.

 (c)Szing This is a purple, pink and metallic silver painted pendant

that is lacquered.  Pendant is 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" square. Includes 16"

snake chain.  $15.

 (c) SZing  This is a reversible "stained glass" style necklace.  The artwork on each

side was digitally created.  A fun way to have two-looks-in-one piece.  Includes

a 16" snake chain.  $20.

 (c) SZing  This is a reversible "stained glass" style necklace.  The artwork on each

side was digitally created by me and is totally one of a kind. 

 A fun way to have two-looks-in-one piece.  Includes

a 16" snake chain.  $20.

Twisted in a Good Way...

As I mentioned last week, I took a wire wrapping class this weekend at the Bead Strand in Ocala with Miranda Turner of Wishful Wire (she does not yet have a website--sorry).  I had been practicing my wire wrapping for several weeks before taking the class and had made a few beaded pendants and some rings that I like very much...

(c) SZing Wire wrapped black swarovsky beaded ring (sz. 8)  $20

(c) SZing Wire wrapped black and dark pink swarovsky beaded ring (sz.6)  $20

(c) SZing Wire wrapped green/purple irridescent swarovsky beaded ring (sz. 7)  $20

So far, I've made about a dozen rings to sell (and kept three--a shiny silver beaded one, one of the black beaded ones, and a dark purple beaded one).  I'm selling these for $20 a piece (if you want one, email me and we can make arrangements.)  I'm going to be posting some of these at Bohemianartcafe on Etsy and maybe also see how they do on Ebay.  I'm going to work this week on making some of these rings using sea glass beads and will post the results when I have some completed.

I worked on a couple of beaded pendants but they are incomplete--I need to add bails and want to do some additional embellishment, I think.  This is what they look like thus far:

(c) SZing Work in progress wire wrapped beaded pendant. 

(c) SZing Work in progress wire wrapped beaded pendant.



I had such a great time at the wire wrapping class--there were only four of us, so it was the perfect size class--if one of us got stuck, none of us got too far behind while Miranda helped out.  She is a very good instructor with fairly clear directions and easy to follow along.  I specifically decided to take this class because fine soldered silver working 1) takes me a long time and 2) is getting quite costly, but I have a great many fused glass cabochons I have made over the past few years and wanted to find a way to incorporate them better into some jewelry.  This seems to be a perfect solution!!

I used an oval piece of black glass with two pieces of dichroic fused into the cabochon as my class practice piece. I was very pleased with the result.... I have already gotten several lovely remarks about it when I wore it to the grocery store and church.

(c) SZing Wire wrapped fused glass cabochon pendant (NFS)

Of course, Saturday evening and Sunday, since it was scorching hot and humid, we stayed indoors and had a movie festival.  I used my "breakfast in bed" serving tray to lay out jewelry making materials while I watched tv and worked on several other pendants.

(c) SZing Forest stone wire wrapped pendant. 

This is a square stone bead I've had for a while, not glass.

The "copper" color wire is plastic covered over wire and

will not leave the green residue regular copper wire normally does. 

Approximately 1 1/4" l x 1" w.   $35.

 (c) SZing Wire wrapped red sea glass pendant. 

Approximately 2" l x 1 1/4" w,

$40.

(c) SZing Wire wrapped pink and gold stone pendant.

Approximately 1 3/4" l x 1 1/2" w. NFS.

Since my studio is not quite up and running, it is AWESOME to have a creative outlet.  I do have to say that my resolution to "not make anything new until I sold all my existing inventory" really didn't last long.  I just can't not create! (sorry for the double negative there, but it is the only way I can adequately describe this drive to create.)  It is truly a passion within me driving me to express my creativity.

Not only was the wire wrapping class a delight, but I was asked by the owner of The Bead Strand if I would like to hold a trunk show at the shop in the winter and we scheduled it for November 2nd/3rd.  Very exciting.  I am going to see about finding some other venues where I might be able to do similar trunk shows in and around the Florida area.  Things are moving along despite not having an "open to the public studio."  Happy Day.  Now on to the excitement of starting to load some items to Bohemianartcafe on Etsy.