More Learning...

So, in the spirit of improvement, I take lots of classes. Yesterday it was creative writing--hence, I'm not feeling very creative today! haaaa Putting good sentences together can take a lot out of you!

But, also for improvement, today I broke out the manual for my camera. I got some very helpful feedback from another artist out there in Etsy world and I realized that the pictures I take aren't very good. So, with her encouragement (many thank, Lisa) and a lot of memory on my computer, I practiced picture-taking today. As all other jewelry blogs and books advise, outdoor light really does work best. :) These are a couple of the pics from today and they pieces are for sale on my Jen Judd Rocks Etsy store site, of course! :)

Adding Some 'Billy to the Rocks

I was given a design challenge by a friend: big colors for a friend who wears almost all black and expresses her funky, rockabilly style through her accessories. Hmmm...I got home from work on Friday, thinking of the big round glass turquoise beads that I had in my stash. I tried to take a nap, but couldn't stop thinking of these beads and the potential for some colored-wire wrapping to liven them up. So, sleepy me went downstairs and started in on the colored wire with much delight. That was Friday and while the adventure with wire was wonderful, I'm saving those pieces for later.

The color experimentation, though, brought out the turquoise glass again, but this time mixed it with red--coral and seed beads. I couldn't help but grab the black and white beans to add the 'billy to the rocks. Mind you, I'm not a fashion expert, no matter how much Style network I watch, but I love this end result. It might not meet the needs of the customer I had in mind, but it definitely meets the needs of my inner bean/bead artist!!

Setting Up Shop!!!

It was my goal today to get some pieces listed in my new Etsy shop and while it took me the whole day, they're there!!

Click here to see what I've got available: JenJuddRocks!

It has been a busy and creative time for me. My adventures in Bedford at Fall Foliage were so much fun! I learned just how much I love my stuff and how much others appreciate it, too. What a great feeling. It's nice to know that I don't sit in my basement entertaining myself for no reason! haaaaaaaa

A big thank you to all my family and friends who came out to help me with this adventure. It was wonderful to catch up with old friends and meet new ones!!

Man-Sized Knotty Paperclip

I had one of those creative surges just before falling asleep the other day when considering how to incorporate another giant paperclip into a design suitable for a man who didn't believe that they existed in real life. So, in my imaginary paperclip world, I reached into the past and pulled back some macrame and came up with this great key chain.

I love how the object is incorporated into the knots. He liked it too!!

Totally Falling for the New Look!

I want to make a quick post to thank my wonderful designer, Dionne, for her help with my new designs both here and over at my Etsy site. I love the community of creative people that I've found over there!! Her Studio Chic Design shop has lots of options for website help as well as other design pieces and parts that are a great resource for a little biz like my own!! Check her out!!

A Rose By Any Other Name...

is probably the rose that hasn't been delivered to my house!!! haaaaaaaaaaaa

I achieved a peaceful balance today because while I got rid of plenty of potpourri that no longer added any value to the aromatherapy mix in my house, I created some gorgeous delicate necklaces with rose petal pendants. The trade of the dried flowers was probably not very good feng shui, but I love what I ended up with!!

I explored the Occoquan Fall Craft show yesterday and found some lovely work by Forest Flower Jewelry that I immediately knew would mix well with my squigglies of late. Look at the rich color of that petal! It's protected by lacquer and edged with sterling silver. I absolutely love it!!

The pink petal looks just as pretty...a feminine touch with a big wire swirl...

I have lots of other autumnal pieces from my favorite Occoquan vendor, so will have more to show off soon!

And...Frankie says "hello" to all of you...this is seriously the first time he hasn't freaked out when I pointed the camera at him in the year and a half I've had him...what a loony cat!!!

A Stringing Cowgirl Ballerina!

If I had to describe my dreamworld, it's usually somewhere in my Grammy Snyder's house...I have a svelte dancer's body, the kickass attitude of a cowgirl, and I'm surrounded by pretty beads!!! How I was able to catch this dreamscape on film is just about amazing, but I did!! (Okay, so I don't have the dancer's body, but I do have the tutu and the kickass boots!! haaaaaaaa)

My big dreamy news for today is that my winning entry in the Channeling Cinderella challenge is pictured on the pages of the Fall 2008 issue of Stringing Magazine!! I wandered around the office yesterday holding the page in my hand like a security blanket with a big smile on my face. Thanks to all of you who voted and helped me meet this personal goal!