Beep & the FSDF

You guys, there is a Beep Blog!!! I just discovered this, and I'm very happy, because I love Aunt Beep (well, AuntBeep.com and Tracey, who runs it), and now I can get Beep updates daily! Not to mention the recipes! Woohoo! Go, Aunt Beep!

I have gotten nothing done all weekend. I made no jewelry, I did no laundry, I filed nothing, I organized zip, I have been absolutely unproductive.

And I find I don't really care all that much. Besides, next weekend, I have 2 full days of Dragonfly-related stuff slated, so I will salve my conscience with that.

And actually, I take it back. I jump-started my old message board. See, once upon a time, I used to write. And I lost my writer's group, so I set out to start an online writing group. And since I love fairytales and write mostly fantasy and there was a full-on running gag that had developed between me and a few other people regarding a mythological publication called The Faerie Scientific Digest (it's a looooong story), I decided to name my message board the Faerie Scientific Digest Forum, with a webpage that was supposed to change every month to a new "issue" of little-known "facts" regarding fairies and the universe. That kinda fell apart, but I loved my little forum because for a while, it was filled with people who all loved fairytales and wrote poetry and stories and were cheerful, happy people, sharing cheerful, happy vibes. And then it sort of crashed. A group of unrulies sort of drove away most of my happy regulars, and it's hard to maintain a synergy-driven place if it's only you and 1 or 2 others posting, so I lost interest in maintaining it. I was stressed, and the place was taking a lot of energy I didn't have. But I dropped back by it on Friday, just on a whim, and there were still people visiting and even posting now and again, so I jumped back in, paid for a year, and have been dusting the place out all weekend. I want to turn it into a place where creative people who like whimsy can come hang out and post about their art. So I'm trying to figure out how to restructure the categories, because I only have 16, and they're full, and most of them are geared toward writing. But I'd like people who make jewelry or create found art and the like can also post, and maybe put up links to things they're working on and get feedback, etc.

So that's what I spent most of my weekend doing, and I think that was time well-spent, even if it didn't produce any jewelry.

Jenie

Valentine Jewelry - Heather Rhodonite & Amazonite Necklace

So, I think I am going to Paris this summer. I haven't been in 3 years; it's time. So that means I need to sell a lot of jewelry, because summer airfare to Paris is ridiculous. Which means I need to come up with a way to make the money, and I've got about 4.5 months to do it. Ideas?

Also, if you know how to score awesome tickets, please sally forth...er, here, with the information.

And that brings me to today's Valentine jewelry item:



The Heather necklace is a 16" strand of amazonite with a pretty dark rose-pink rhodonite heart and sterling silver toggle clasp. It goes great with either a spaghetti strap camisole or nestled inside the collar of a crisp starched shirt and likes to be worn equally well with jeans or dresses. It's kinda partial to skirts, as well. It's also more pink than it is red, despite the sunset color of the heart in this picture.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, you know. Treat yourself! :)



Jenie

It wants the Precioussssss

Had a good day at the bead show today. Long day, though. Traffic was awful, so I had to call Nicole up to say "um, can you tell me how to get to the convention center and stay on the phone with me as you do so and I drive them?" And I was like 45 minutes late getting there, so I not only kept KJ waiting, I missed meeting my buddy Myisha. :(

Did a lot of walking...whew. Got some cool stuff and spent more than I should have. Had a stellar dinner after with KJ, at Monsoon, and our waiter was very good, which from what I understand is so NOT par for the course there. I also totally blew my diet, but I do not care: the tempura fried banana desert is just that insanely good. Besides, Lent is right around the corner. ;)

I got some killer kyanite today, really pretty (look for earrings soon!), and a "new" stone called celestite. Since you know I can't discover something new to me without also informing you guys, here's a little info on celestite:

Also called "celestine," celestite is a beautiful sky blue mineral with a slightly metallic shimmer. It draws its name from the word "celestial" and is sometimes referred to as "the dream stone," believed to facilitate dream recall, astral travel, and connection to the spiritual realm. Celestite is primarily found in the United States and Madagascar, in blue, yellow, clear, and with brown, red and green tints. It is a soft mineral, rated 3 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale, so extra care should be taken with your celestite jewelry.

I should rewrite that for you less formally, but frankly, I'm exhausted, so you got what I wrote for my semi-precious materials page. Don't hate me, yo. ;)

Since I also got some gorgeous sort of rosy-plum chalcedony (courtesy of wonderful, understanding, and bead-addiction feeding KJ), I guess I have to finally get around to writing something about chalcedony for that page, too. It's about time; "chalcedony - " has been floating around out there by itself for an embarrassingly long time. But gem research takes time, so it happens when it happens. I'll add kyanite too, if it's not already on there.

I also bought some Hill Tribe Silver dragonflies, so I will finally have dragonflies to offer all those people who write me and say, "Hey, can you make me a dragonfly necklace?" Hill Tribe Silver is generally 95-99% silver, as opposed to the 92.5% silver that sterling is, and this particular stuff is 98.2 or 98.7 (it was late and I was tired), so I guess in retrospect, 69 cents a gram isn't that much, and each dragonfly was only a little more than a dollar, but that bill was a bit of a shock when I got it, I have to say. It's not all dragonflies, though. I got some neat little round charms with a fern leaf and two flower engraved in them, so I can do a crystal benefit bracelet for the NRDC...yay! I'm going to do 10, and that will be all of that particular bracelet, I think.

At any rate, I really have to go pass out, now. I don't know why I'm still awake. I'm exhausted and my throat hurts.

Goin' to the Bead Show & We're Gonna Get Beady!

I'm headed off to the bead show again this weekend and really looking forward to it...woohoo! Me and my buddy KJ are gonna look at lots of shiny, shiny stuff. :)



Speaking of KJ, she likes this butterfly necklace, which is still on the site, but has been moved to the bargain fashion section, which the shop doesn't have a category for yet, because I haven't had time to edit my shop template. (Luckily, all you have to do is the click the picture 3 times and say to yourself, there's no place like home, there's no place like--. Oh. Um...nevermind.) ;) It's sterling silver, with a single swarovski crystal and matching satin cord. Or contrasting satin cord - hey, it's your necklace, go nuts. :)

I also have this version, without the crystal. At a mere $14.99, they're both cute summer steals, and summer is just around the corner. :)




Jenie

Valentine Jewelry - Red/Pink satin lariat with sterling silver heart

Trying to get over a vicious bug that just will not let me be, so I got pretty much nothing done this weekend. I tried, but most of the time I decided sitting upright was really just too much work, and curled up in bed under my nice, warm covers was much the nicer place to be. Was it slothful? Very, coz I have tons of stuff to do. Do I care? Not really, no.

I should probably limit my heart jewelry images to one a week, but I'm not really all that good at waiting, and besides, I have other things I'm supposed to be doing here once a week. I need to get back to the Tuesday Treasures, which I love doing, for one. So something as structured as doing this once a week, just isn't working for me, ya know? So let's just throw caution to the wind and run with it, willy nilly, like scissors. Only, you know, less dangerous. :)

Today's image is actually one of my favorite creations. I love this satin and sterling silver heart lasso and the suede lasso. They're perfect on a summer day with a tank top. Who knows...perhaps this will be the February drawing prize. In whatever color the winner likes. I like this beautiful red best, though. :)



bonjour, l'amour :)
jenie

Valentine Jewelry - Michelle Floating Heart Necklace

May as well start highlighting Valentine goods while I update, what? :) This necklace originated as a gift to say "thank you," way back when I started the site. Michelle lent me her digital camera, which I used to take all the original site photos. This is one of them. Now I own my own camera and hopefully take better pictures than I did then. :)



Michelle is fashioned of sterling silver chain, cheery Swarovski crystals in rose and peridot, and a free floating heart of pressed Czech glass with a pink and white cotton candy ribbon of color. Bright and lively, this is one of my favorite necklaces; who knew I really liked pink and green together? That'll teach me to mock! ;)


Pip pip,
Jenie

BFF necklace, anyone?

Want to know what most people are searching for when they land here? BFF necklaces. That's right. By overwhelming margin, this:


is what's drawing people to Dragonfly. The Amy BFF necklace. Clearly, a line of BFF necklaces is in order. So if you have landed here searching for one, I'd love to hear about it. Tell me what you're looking for in a BFF necklace, and I'll toss your name into the pool to win a brand new design, for free, no strings attached. E-me or tell me in comments, your choice. Just make sure I have a way of contacting you when you win. :)

Of course, I also do custom orders, so odds are, whatever you're looking for, I can whip up for you. Just let me know here. :)

ttfn,
jenie

Change Is Good

I have decided to slim Dragonfly down, to steer it more toward the unique site it was originally conceived to be. So a lot of items currently residing on the site which are pretty easily produced are going into a new section more akin to fashion jewelry, and only the more unique pieces will be listed in the main categories on the site. It pains me to have to admit it, but the site is a little too "cute". I wanted to create a wide range of product so that there would be something for everyone, but I fear that's holding me back somewhat and projecting a different image than I want to project.

I think I'm also going to create a one-of-a-kind page for items I will not be repeating. Most things I plan to make at least 5 of, but there are some items I either can't or don't want to replicate. The WindDancer southwestern-style necklace comes to mind.


I think it's neat and dig the leather and mother of pearl with the shell design, but I can't get any more pendants, so there's only the one available.

I also have to do a lot of new images for some of the original items which will be staying, and for some of the items which I have been procrastinating photographing.

So look for site changes over the next month, because believe me, they're coming.

Processing Woes

I have discovered a problem with Verisign since December wherein for one arbitrary reason or another, Verisign declines perfectly legitimate credit card payments. This problem did not in any way exist until the company was purchased by PayPal late last year (2005). Coincidence? I think not.

I am currently trying to figure out how to resolve this issue, which to date has cost me $250 and lord knows how many customers. I was able to recover one customer, but only because I know her personally, and she sent me an email right after Christmas, saying "hey, what happened to my order from way back in mid-December that never showed up?" And now tonight, a friend of a friend tried to order a $125 bracelet from me for his wife's birthday, only to have what I know to be a 100% legitimate and acceptable transaction declined and cancelled by the new and improved PayPal Verisign.

I am not happy.

I am in the process of trying to figure this out, and the only reason I am not right this very minute switching my account to authorize.net is the resistance I am getting from my web developer, and since I lack the know-how to do it myself, I am having to jump thru his hoops first. But you can bet your butts that when I discover that this fault lies with a processing error with Verisign Paypal, I will be taking my business elsewhere and singing with bells on as I do so.

If you have attempted to order from me in the last few months, please know that I had no way of knowing this problem was in existence (not all orders are affected, least of all any of the test orders I have done, both real and fake) and that I am working as hard as I can to fix the problem. Your business IS important to me.

Thank you,
Jenie

New Beads

Because I have no self-control whatsoever, I went to Beads of P* today, despite the fact that in 3 weeks I am going to the CA Gift Show and will be spending probably $300 on beads then. But I wanted some faceted semi-precious rondelles, and my other stores do not carry them, so I figured I'd swing by BoP on the way home, despite the fact their labelling practices can be dicey. They tend to have a pretty good selection of stuff. Unfortunately, they have pared down what they carry.

At any rate, I got some tiny 2mm beads in carnelian and hematite. I need more in other colors for some "webby" earrings I've been wanting to do; all I have now are garnet, carnelian, and the hematite. I want peridot and amethyst too. I also got some totally rough "shards" of aquamarine that will look cool as pendants and focals, some pentagonal "briolettes" of peach moonstone, and some really neat irregularly-bordered slices of labradorite that will make killer earrings and pendants. I got two strands of those, and I'm sure I spent way too much, but I hadn't seen them anywhere, so I spent it. For that matter, the aquamarine was overpriced, too, but whatever. I'm sure I'll kick myself when I see them all for a fraction (literally) at the bead show, but that's okay. I'm good. Really. :)

Jenie

listening to: soundtrack to The Prince & Me; specifically at this moment, Katy Fitzgerald, "It Doesn't Get Better Than This"

Hey, all you paper jewelry artists out there:

Ms. Le Van posted this to the International Jewelry Designers' Guild, of which I am a member. I am passing it on to those of you who are designers of paper jewelry (Lori-Lyn!), in case it interests you. I don't know Ms. Le Van, nor can I vouch for this project, so please do any kind of checking out you need to feel comfortable before you send her your design(s).

Jenie

The Art of Jewelry: Paper Jewelry
Marthe Le Van, Editor

Lark Books seeks images of innovative paper jewelry for the gallery portion of a project book about paper jewelry. We wish to publish all types of ornament—pendants, rings, brooches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces—but especially desire highly imaginative work with a sophisticated aesthetic. This book, to be released in the fall of 2006, will also feature 40 paper jewelry projects, accompanied by instructions for creating them.

We accept high-quality transparencies, 35-mm slides, and high-resolution digital images. Artists whose work is selected for inclusion will receive full acknowledgment within the book, a complimentary copy, and discounts on the purchase of books. Artists retain copyright of their work.

Entries must be postmarked by February 15, 2006.

Guidelines & Entry Forms are available on the web:
http://www.larkbooks.com/submissions/ArtistEntryForm-PaperJewelry.asp
and via e-mail:
nathalie@larkbooks.com

2005 in Review

I found some pretty neat stuff in 2005, so I thought I'd do a recap of some of the stuff I touched on during the year. :)

I made some nice contacts and met some super supportive people last year. Big time shout outs of appreciation to Silver Parrot, Wickedly Chic, Nesting With Style, Zuzu's Garden, Yatta, Bark & Sparkle, Paper Scissors Rock, Creature Comforts, & Driving Blind Distro. Additional thanks to Dream Life, Mood Swing, Paperbride, and Soleil Rouge.

My Christmas goodies trade was much fun for all my buyers, and I got a great first-hand look at some of the following women's wonderful goods: Artful Sentiments - blockprinted cards, AYU Bath & Body - spa products, Bags With Style - upscale tote/shoe bags and travel/shoe accessories, The Creative Cupcake - accessories & notecards, Crooked Mile Candle Co. - scented candles & gifts, Designed by RJ - jewelry & accessories, Paper Scissors Rock - magnets & clocks utilizing the bright & cheerful art of Northwest artist Pamela Corwin (awesome travel alarm clocks!), Pink Purple & Orange - gifts & accessories, Soleil Rouge - bags and purses, and Sprout Studio - gifts & accessories for your home and person.

I got my first press mention this last year, as well. Two of them, actually. The first being Heather's incredible Creature Comforts shopping blog, and the other a Featured Venus spot on my favorite finds site, Wickedly Chic.

I also made my first consignment deals in 2005, and Dragonfly items can also be found - with more, exclusive designs on the way - at the newly premiered Nesting With Style and the soon-to-launch Lizzy Wishes. I adore both shops and the women who run them, and look forward a to a long and fulfilling relationship with them. :)

Tuesday Treasures were rather sporadic, I admit, but I think I featured some excellent artists, and I look forward to continuing the tradition in 2006. 2005 Treasures included 7twentyfour press' richly designed cards and stationery, the delightful finds and creations of Mood Swing Studio, Yatta's fun & functional clutchlets and accessories, gorgeous botanical collages at Zuzu's Garden, Paper Bride's adorable wedding invitations and thank you cards, the natural jewelry and art of Lamoore Designs, Spot Organics' organic herbal pet products, and the dazzling Swarovski collars of Bark & Sparkle.

I hope you'll pay all of these women a visit in 2006, and wish them all continued success.

I'm looking forward to the coming year and the introduction of facial and aromatherapy products at Dragonfly, as well as a lot of new and upscale jewelry designs.

Here's to the future, and thank you for being a part of it.

Jenie

Happy 2006

I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's Eve and that 2006 is a year of good luck and prosperity for you all. I had my round food today, so let's home the good health, wealth, and luck just roll in, shall we? :)

It's cold and rainy here in "sunny" CA. I hate being cold, so I'm less than thrilled.

Packages have gone out to Kim and Katie, who were the latest drawing winners. They each won a pair of sterling silver and blue opal earrings, as well as a selection of items from my partner sites this Christmas. I'm now trying to figure out how to mail a plant stick out without mishap. It went out once already, in a round tube, and was lost, so now I'm trying to mail a replacement stick out in a triangular "tube," but I'm worried the stick will snap...it's a longer stick than most, so it won't fit into a large Priority Mail box, which necessitates the longer documents box...which does not exactly inspire faith. I have some tubes I tried to fit the stick into, but again, this particular stick is apple wood. It's beautiful and curvy, but that means it requires more space, and none of my tubes are really accomodating. So Thursday, I have to go on a quest to find a proper tube for this particular stick, so that the person who won it AGES ago can finally have it.

::sigh:: Earrings are so much easier.

Happy New Year,
Jenie