Smu is Back! Sneak Peek at New Work

After a long break I am back at the jewelry bench and the computer! I was able to spend some time being creative this weekend while hubby and baby took a nap together :) I am quite pleased with the fruits of my creative labor and plan to list the matching set pictured above in my Etsy shop along with a newly-created copper and chyrosocolla ring.

Wish List Wednesday - Beach Beauty

There are so many great things to look at on Etsy my favorites list has become a bit overwhelming :) It proved impossible to pick just one item for today's "Wish List Wednesday" post---I ended up with a collection of three beach-themed beauties that I would love to make my own. Be sure to follow the links below back to their creator's shops as these are from some of my perennial favs whose items pop up in my favs list again and again!

Sea Urchin Spine Earrings

Hollow Blown Shell Focal by Catalina Glass

upcycled aqua pelican pencil case

She Sells Sea Shells

She Sells Sea Shells

The Etsy love just keeps coming! Check out this amazing beachy treasury that features one of my ShapeShifter convertable bracelet/necklace designs!

Smu's Friday Finds--Let's Hit the Beach!

With tempatures in North Carolina reaching the 80's I'm definately ready for that first summer beach trip! Since I'm not there yet, I thought the next-best thing would be to dedicate this week's Friday Finds to some fanatasticly-beachy Etsy fare!

Starfish Kissing Ball/Pomander

Ocean Floor - Lampwork and Sterling Bracelet

Green Seahorse Textured Trinket Dish

Handmade Shell Necklace

Abstract Sun Rise Original Seascape Painting

Smu's Friday Finds: Beachy Beauty

Seaside Dreams of the Beach - Sand, Shells and Planked Fish Necklace

Emerald Delights, Sea Glass Earrings

Sterling Silver Goddess Pendant

Beach Front - sand dollars and starfish 8pc crocheted entertaining set

Work in Progress!

While I was on vacation I started a project with some gorgeous blue stone beads and silvertone sea themed charms.  Although I didn't get far past the design stage while in the Outer Banks, I've pulled my jewelry cart into the living room to work on jewelry while watching baseball :)  Stay tuned to see the finished piece as soon as I'm done!

Found on the Beach--Shells and Such from the Outer Banks of NC

My husband and I just returned from a fantastic vacation to Outer Banks of North Carolina, and I had to share some of the treasures I found on the beach! I didn't have any luck finding seaglass this trip, but came away with some fantastic shells including several broken shell pieces sculpted by the sea into beautiful shapes--the purple and white striped piece with the holes in it (bottom right) is one of my favs and will make a beautiful pendant or focal point for a necklace.

My design ideas right now are focused on the small "V" shaped piece of driftwood I found on the beach near our rented condo in Nag's Head. I'm thinking of pairing it with a piece of aqua seaglass and wrapping both the wood and seaglass with sterling silver wire to create a unique sea-themed pendant or necklace.

In addition to the small piece of driftwood I found myself, I also purchased two larger driftwood pieces on Roanoke Island to use for jewelry display during photo shoots for item listings. If you love shells, seaglass and all things beachy, add the Outer Banks to your vacation list!

Smu's Friday Finds! Ocean

Here is today's first round of Friday Finds.  Check out the awesome ocean themed items below and be sure to visit the shops they came from for more fantastic handmade goods!

CrazyDaisyDesigns

Kellysbeads

MadameCupcake

GreenMeanies

Friday Finds on Etsy!

I'm always amazed at the great variety of fantastic items on Etsy, and this week was no exception. In fact, I actually did a bit of shopping for myself (gasp!) purchasing one of the items from my favorites and placing a custom order with MadBird for items similar to a fav of mine she had sold.

Today's first round of Friday Finds will be Ocean-Themed, but I will be following up later today with some fantastic bird-themed finds!

Take a moment to click back to the listings for these items and check out the wonderful shops--there are many more great items where these came from!

Have an Ocean or Bird Themed item in your shop? Post a comment with a link so we can take a look!

Ocean-Themed Thursday Continues!

More Great Ocean-Themed Etsy items!

Wishing for the Sea.....

I'm always on the lookout for great handmade items with an Ocean, Sea or Beach theme :) Here are a few I found through Twitter today!



Be sure to click your way back to the fantastic Etsy shops these items are listed in!

Ocean-Themed Friday: DreamWhimsy

Here's another great ocean-themed item from a great Etsy shop--DreamWhimsy! The Needle Felted Starfish Sea Star Echinoderm pictured here is another new favorite!

Ocean-Themed Friday: StudioMarcy

Glass is a fantastic medium for ocean-themed items! Here's another new favorite of mine from StudioMarcy on Etsy, Sally Found A Sea Shell!

Ocean-Themed Friday: Bellebeads

Here's another great ocean-themed find on Etsy! I've been in love with Bellebeads' beachy lampwork beads for awhile :) Periwinkle Tide (pictured here) is definately a new favorite!

Ocean-Themed Friday: Kimberquinn

I've been finding so many fantastic ocean and beach themed items on Etsy, I've decided to share them and the wonderful artists that created them!

First up, this fantastic Ocean Breeze Shea Butter Soap from kimberquinn on Etsy!

Do you have an ocean-themed item you'd like to share? Leave a comment with the link to your item and I'll take a look! Check back throughout the day as I'll be posting more of my favorite finds!

New Work! More Beachy Goodness :)

I took LOTS of pictures for new listings this weekend when the sun was out :) Here are a few selections from the weekend photo shoot to get you in the mood for summer!

Look for these items to be listed soon on either Etsy or Artfire :) Two of these pieces (top and bottom photos) are part of my new "ShapeShifters" collection and can be work as either a bracelet or necklace.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Weekly Smu*Topia Giveaway! Fri. 4/3 - Thu. 4/9

It's Friday, and I've picked a winner for last week's giveaway......it must be time to post a NEW giveaway!


This week's prize is the "Starfish Hoop" pendant pictured above. Pendant is 3 inches long and comes on a 16 inch chain.

To Enter: Receive one entry for each of the following:

• Visit SmuTopia on Etsy then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.
• Visit SmuTopia on ArtFire then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.
• Post a link to this blog or one of my shops on your website then post a comment here with your URL.
• Become a follower on this blog.
• Make a purchase from SmuTopia.

Entries must be received by Midnight EDT on Thursday 4/9/09. I will compile all entries and draw a winner on Friday 4/10 and post a comment here. I will also be contacting the winner via email--make sure you leave your email address if it isn't in your profile!

Alchemy Flower-girl Tiara--Finished!

I've gotten the enthusiastic approval of the buyer and added the final wire-wrapping around the base--this alchemy order is officially finished!

Alchemy--Flowergirl Tiara Inprocess

I'm almost finished this ocean-inspired flower-girl tiara alchemy order, and I love how it is turning out! It is always so rewarding to see a piece come together. I'll be filling in a bit more with some small champagne colored crystals and ivory colored shell beads.

Holy SeaGlass!! (Thanks Mom!)

Earlier this year my parents visited Grand Turk, and my Mom came home with a ton of sea-glass for me to use in my jewelry designs! I've selected a few of my favorite pieces to make into pendants--stay tuned to see what else I can create with this treasure trove :)