Bead Binge!!! Merri Morningstar Jewelry

I've been on a bead binge lately (I'm sure you bead-lovers out there can relate) and wanted to share some of the fantastic artists and suppliers I have been purchasing from! First up is Merri Morningstar Jewelry on Etsy--I recently purchased the two stone focal beads pictured above. Check out Merri's shop on Etsy to see fantastic jewelry and beads: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5165836

Creature Feature!

Pictured here are two of my most recent creations--earrings featuring creatures! The silvertone seahorse charms were purchased from fellow Etsian blacksheepbeads (http://blacksheepbeads.etsy.com/) and the adorable bluebird shell beads were part of a trade with atrag2, one of my Flickr buddies (http://www.flickr.com/photos/atrag/).

SmuTopia Blog Feature and Interview!

Check out Bonghinatura's Blog where I have been interviewed for today's Friday Feature!

http://bonghinatura.blogspot.com/

Saturday 4/26/08: Rock the Baby Family Festival

The Smutopia traveling roadshow will be setting up at the Rock the Baby Family Festival this Saturday 4/26/08 from 4-6pm. Follow this link to the festival website for directions and additional information: http://www.chapelhilll.org/Rock_the_Baby%21.html

Gathering materials for Flower-girl Tiara Alchemy Order

I'm gathering materials for a new alchemy order--stay tuned to see these materials turn into an ocean/beach themed flower-girl tiara!

1. freshwater pearls-small (ivory)

2. bumpy freshwater pearls (ivory)

3. blister pearls (ivory)

4. freshwater pearls-large (ivory)

5. freshwater pearls (pale yellow/green)

6. freshwater pearls (pale green)

7. mother of pearl chips

8. green swavorski crystals

9. yellow jade

10. mother of pearl beads

11. small spiral shells

12. creamy shell beads-large

13. creamy shell beads-small

14. peach and cream shell beads

Orphan Beads Unite--Strength in Numbers!

Making these Orphan-Bead charms/zipper-pulls is addictive! I keep a bin of orphan beads and my tools next to my chair while watching baseball and the darn things just keep multiplying....

Making Jewelry and Watching the Red Sox: My Two Favorite Activities!

I have always paired making jewelry with watching baseball--for me it is the perfect pairing of my two favorite activities..........

Most nights between April and October you can find me in front of the Red Sox game, tools in hand, surrounded by containers of beads and findings.

The photos in this post are of jewelry I have made watching baseball in the past few days--I'm so glad to have the season underway!

Raleigh Gem and Mineral Festival!

This weekend the Raleigh Gem and Mineral Festival was taking place at the NC State Fairgrounds. I visited on Saturday just to window-shop, but ended up going back today to make some purchases. I'm so glad my husband saw this ad in the local newspaper or I would have missed it!

My First Interview! Blog Feature Coming on 4/28/08

I was interviewed today for an upcoming feature on the NC Triangle Area Etsy Street Team blog! The interview and feature article on my shop, SmuTopia, will be published on April 28th--visit the site now to learn more about this fantastic team of local artists!

http://nctriangle.blogspot.com

Orphan Beads of the World Unite! Waiting to Post...

Yesterday I began posting items from my new line, 'Orphan Beads of the World Unite!' The number 1 in the series has already sold, and numbers 2, 3 and 4 are currently listed in my Etsy shop. Those pictured in the cluster above will be coming soon!

Orphan-Beads of the World Unite!

Today marks the debut of my new design series; 'Orphan-Beads of the World Unite!' (first in series pictured above). The name for this line was supplied by a shopper at the Designers Downtown Market on Saturday, where my orphan-bead baubles were a smashing success! There are tons of uses for these adorable little gems--I've thought of a bunch and I'm sure you'll come up with more....I list them as zipper pulls/charms, but they could easily be used as pendants on a simple chain. What would you use them for? Leave a comment! :-)

Ta Da! SmuTopia Debuts at the Designers Downtown Market

Yesterday, 3/22, I set up a booth at the Designer's Downtown Market in Raleigh, NC--SmuTopia's craft show debut! I'm so happy with the way my displays looked--it was so cool to see everything come together the way I had envisioned :) The show was a success, and I'm even more motivated to find more craft shows to apply for now that I have one under my belt!

The next thing I plan to add to the SmuTopia traveling set-up is a white tent-top (and some weights to keep it from flying away on a windy day!)

Hurry Up.......and Wait! DDM Rescheduled for 3/22

So, I have a little more time to prep for my first craft show appearance at the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh since it was postponed due to nasty weather! The show will go on this Saturday, 3/22. I was disappointed, but I can always use more prep time :-) Pictured above is the main part of my display for bracelets and necklaces. It's looking better and better.....I can't wait to get photos of the booth as a whole when I set up this Saturday!

Countdown to Saturday 3/15....Displays in Progress

We're in the homestretch now....only a few more days to prepare for my first show, the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh this Saturday, 3/15! I've been hard at work on my displays. The photo above shows my earring display board, now covered with fuzzy green fabric :-) It's coming together, but there is still so much to do.......

3/15 Designers' Downtown Market--Prep Time!

I will be setting up a booth at the Designer's Downtown Market outside Ornamentia in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, March 15th! Although I have sold my jewelry online and at the NC State Fairgrounds flea market, this will be SmuTopia's first appearance at a real craft show!!! I've been hard at work on both my inventory and my displays--visit soon for more updates....

Lifecycle of a Custom Order--Part 1; Inspiration

I am just beginning the process of creating a custom order. This custom necklace/bracelet/earrings set will be worn at a summer wedding by the mother of the groom. This set will be in the hue of lilac, to match the peep skirt of to be worn with this stylish black dress.