The Urge to Etsy

I've been fighting it for who knows how long?  At least a couple of years.  I had this incredible fear of Etsy.  I've done everything I could to avoid becoming a seller on Etsy.  I've joined myriad other sites,  including but not limited to:  ArtFire, Amazon, ThreeSistersMarketplace (chose not to go any further with them),  yardsellr,  blah blah blah.

ArtFire was working for me for a couple of months there,  and the price is right.  I just don't think enough people know about ArtFire,  therefore there's not enough traffic to keep my little business afloat. 

Oh,  and I fought the Ebay urge too.  I love shopping for supplies on Ebay,  but I just wasn't having any of the selling.

Now,  my two main sales forces are Ebay and ETSY...and I am LOVING IT!!!!!

I've only been with Etsy for two or three days now.  Wish me luck,  and think happy thoughts!!!!!!

Summertime Shiny Things!

Summertime is all about color and sparkle for me.  The word 'summer' conjures up images of gloriously colored flower gardens and green, leafy foliage!  I think about the wildflowers in the meadows,  wild irises on creekbanks,  brightly colored rocks that I find during my rockhunting adventures,  the earthy hues of the sands and dunes in the desert that surrounds our rural community.  And I think of the myriad blues and greens which define the mountain lakes,  glacial ponds,  and melt-fed streams.

And these days,  I think about JEWELRY!!!  Especially charm-style bracelets.  I love the bright,  shiny kaleidoscope of colors and the dangly little charms that make such a delightful sound whenever I move my write.

The materials thrill me!  Glass beads of all sizes, shapes, and colors.  Gemstone beads,  faceted crystal pieces,  crackle glass - shiny with the bubbles inside them.  There are metal beads and even "stardust" beads!!!!  And the metalwork...ah,  yes,  wire wrap.

The twists and swirls,  wire-wrapped charms remind me of gloriously green vines of the clematis, ivy, and wisteria.  Sometimes I throw in little polymer clay beads that I've made and use their palettes to guide my inspiration.

Othertimes,  I am inspired by a combination of stone and wire.  Moonglow,  to the left,  was borne out of moonstone and gold.  Moonstone chips,  rounds,  and tiny faceted rondelles with glass and freshwater pearls coupled with bright gold-plated wire look so beautiful and elegant together!

Do you like the little heart charms?  I LOVE them!!!!

Glittery fireworks,  ripe cherries,  apples on the tree,  red is a gorgeous color,  especially when combined with delicate silver and curly wire work.  I call this one 'Cherry Fizz'.  It's one of my favorites.

'Punk Rock Love' is a necklace I designed for a friend of mine.  Super chunky,  colorful,  and a little edgy.  I really wanted to wrap the heart pendant with barbed wire.  I'm going to have to learn how to make some...

I haven't been doing this for very long...nor have I made much money at it yet (yet,  lol),  but I have had some pieces comissioned,  which is a huge confidence booster!  Jewelry making has become my passion.  Some days I am just so full of inspiration that I make piece after piece,  all day long!!!

The biggest bummer is when I get low on materials!!!!!

One last piece,  for the road.  I call it Kobalt with a K...as in Kristina,   with a K!!!!  LOL.  I love this blue!!!!

www.artfire.com/users/CinnamonLotus

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Why Do I Love COPPER?

Many people favor the shiny yellow color of gold. My personal favorite used to be white gold or silver. However, since I’ve been dabbling in jewelry making and wire wrapping, I find myself drawn more to the richness of copper. I love its color, aura, and its flow.  It seems to enhance the beauty of the colors, textures,  and materials around it without detracting or calling attention to itself. It’s not ostentatious, nor is it so subtle that it goes unnoticed. 


I thought it would be interesting and perhaps helpful to do a little research into the healing,  mythical, and folkloric traditions surrounding the use of copper in ornaments and jewelry in order to fully understand its draw.


Here are some interesting facts and beliefs about copper:


Copper is an excellent physical conductor of electricity and heat. Spiritualists believe that is it also the conductor of spiritual energy between people, auras, the mind,  and the spiritual realm. Healers believe that copper can facilitate the process of healing by stimulating the flow of energy within the wearer.


Physiologically,  copper helps to ensure the proper functioning of the glands.


It assists in the treatment of arthritis, inflammatory,  and rheumatic diseases, as well in the prevention of wear and tear on the joints. Copper also helps to alleviate cramps.


It contributes positively to cleansing, purification,  and detoxification.


Copper improves blood circulation, helps the body to achieve maximum use of its oxygen, and stabilizes the
metabolism. It relieves lethargy and increases energy.


Copper is also believed to increase the self-esteem of the wearer, and to relieve him of worries, anxiety, and bias.
It promotes self-acceptance,  optimism, self-reliance, and tactfulness.


From a magical standpoint,  copper is considered to bring good luck to its wearer, and is carried with other luck bearing stones, talismans, and amulets to increase their power. It is often used in rituals surrounding healing, love, money,  protection, and luck.


If you have a favorite or feel particularly drawn to a stone or metal, you might enjoy digging a little deeper into its properties!    You might find some fascinating and worthwhile information!  There are many good sources for information regarding the metaphysical powers of copper as well as nearly  every other mineral,  metal, stone, herb,  plant, flower, and stone you can think of. Some of this information was compiled from http://shimmerlings.com and www.powersthatbe.com. Here are some other sites of note:

http://www.beadage.net/gemstones/gemstonesA_F.shtml - A very informative and concise record of the properties of gems and crystals.
http://crystalsandjewelry.com/metaphysicalproperties.html  - Offers a pdf catalog of stones with their uses and properties,  and information to assist in stone identification,  amongst other curiousities.



**Here’s my little disclaimer:  Independent of my beliefs,  the information provided herein has been compiled from numerous sources and is for informational purposes only. No claims or representations are expressed or implied by providing this information.