The rising cost of silver & gold-fill

Thanks, at least in part, I am sure, to the rising cost of fuel, the cost of silver and gold-fill have gone up a full 45% in the last few months. This means those of you who haven't felt it yet will soon, and the cost of finished product is about to increase as well. Buy your silver fast, before the cost is affected. I went today to buy more chain for a custom project, and got hit hard, especially having quoted a price which had already been accepted based on the lower rates of just 2 months ago. I'm going to have to eat the increased price. Unfortunately, the higher wholesale rate means Dragonfly's prices must be raised as well, and I can not express my dissatisfaction with the situation enough. I strive to provide quality product at the lowest prices I can and still make labor, so the fact that silver has increased so dramatically really rankles. I feel it unfair to the consumer as well as the artisan, but I guess mining companies can't be expected to eat the higher price of production anymore than I can. If this offends or upsets you at all, you might try dropping a line to your congressman; those in government are the only ones with the power to truly affect the policies that take so much out of our pocketbooks.

One hard-working American to another,
Jenie

Happy :)

I got the nicest phone call today, from a woman who just bought jewelry for her student to wear to the prom. She wanted me to know she's happy with the jewelry, and she said just the nicest things. I love when that happens. :)

Happy weekend, everybody. :)

Jenie

Tuesday Treasures: Paper Scissors Rock

I never know if the name of Paper Scissors Rock is meant as a statement of fact or a play on the name of the popular "kids" game of Rock Paper Scissors, but I really have to say that if the product listed at this whimsical and cheery site is anything to go by, paper scissors do, indeed, rock. Paper Scissors Rock is the online home of Northwest artist Pamela Corwin, whose bright acrylic artwork has been featured in national publications and television programs for over 25 years. It has even graced the White House. According to her bio, Ms. Corwin as been painting since she was a child, utilizing rocks, napkins, jewelry boxes, even her bedside clock, a tradition she is apparently happy to continue today.

Utilizing reproductions of Corwin's original illustrations, PSR's clocks and magnets sparkle with a bubbly charm you can almost hear giggle. Her alarm clocks are made of lightweight plastic, perfect for travel or everyday alarm. I use mine for a backup alarm, since I seem to sleep through my regular alarm like, well, clockwork. I never sleep through my PSR alarm clock, though; it beeps perfectly to wake me up and packs a punch, especially given it's 2" size. It came with a free battery, keeps perfect time, and even has a second hand made up of a rotating lucite disk bearing a tiny image to complement the larger image that makes up the clockface. I love it and can't recommend it enough.

I own the happy pink and green heart clock, but PSR's alarm clocks come in a wide range of designs, from flora and fauna to sports, fairies, and your morning cuppa joe. There's even a martini glass with a floating olive, the Seattle skyline, and what might be my 2nd favorite (I totally heart my heart alarm clock!), a frog prince waiting to be kissed.

In addition to alarm clocks, Paper Scissors Rock also carries lightweight clocks to hang on your wall or pose on a stand. Looking for all the world like ceramic tile, they come in two sizes and another wide range of subject matter; I couldn't possibly pick just one!

If magnets are your thing, Paper Scissors Rock offers a gigantic selection, from square magnets resembling tile to magnets in cut shapes and the newest offerings at PSR, glass gem magnets. All are UV-protected and fade-resistant, with full magnetic backs, and made right here in the USA. And if magnets aren't your thing, but one of Corwin's designs is, you can also order any of the modular or the shape-cut magnets as a keychain. And at $5 each, they're a huge steal. They really cling to the refrigerator, too. Ms. Corwin was kind enough to send me some samples at Christmas, and when I tried one out on the fridge, it practically leapt out of my hand onto the metal!

The Paper Scissors Rock website is simple and straightforward; easy to navigate, and ordering is simple, without a lot of blanks to fill out. Payment is by check or money order, Visa, or Mastercard, and via secure server, and a 1-800 number is available for those who prefer to buy by phone. Ms. Corwin herself is courteous and helpful, and I can not speak highly enough of her. Clearly, paper scissors do rock, in the hands of the right person!

Mr. Magoo

I wear glasses. Contacts, really, but I mean to say I've had to wear corrective lenses since second grade, which, frankly, is a major bummer. I was supposed to wear them all the time, but as a kid I hated them so much (still do, really) that I took them off every chance I got and only wore them to see the board at school or when Mom yelled at me to put 'em on. I even took them off for my 3rd grade picture, which earned me a huge lecture from my mom, but by God, I got that picture without glasses...and it's the last picture of me for my entire childhood without them. I was stuck with them until I turned 18. I told Mom I wanted contact lenses for graduation, and God bless her, that's what I got. :) I started wearing contacts and never, ever looked back.

Unfortunately, about a year ago, I tore my last pair of contact lenses, and since I really didn't have the disposable income a new eye exam and contacts would cost, I've been wearing my glasses...with a prescription dating back to April of 1998 that was never right to begin with. But they were enough to get by on, so I just kept procrastinating the eye exam. Until today. I had to go today, because yesterday my right eye threw in the towel and decided it was tired of struggling with an improper 8 year old prescription, and everything in that eye just blurred, forcing me to face the fact I really had to bite the bullet, spend the money, and go. So today, armed with a coupon for a complete pair of glasses (lenses and frames) for $99, I went.

And discovered that $99 coupons are a joke, as the glasses still cost me $210. Plus an $80 exam, which was cheap, but still. That's almost $300, and ever since I spent the money, I've been wondering what the hey is up with that extra $110, since I didn't get anything fancy, and I stayed within the frames cost the coupon allowed for. I asked the guy, but he just kept saying he'd given me the discount. I don't see how, but frankly, I don't feel good today and didn't feel like arguing. The part of me that is saving for France and doesn't actually have $300 to spend is completely freaking out, though.

Big time.

I also discovered the reason I couldn't see any longer is because my old contacts were for -5 and -5.25. The new ones?

-6

Yow.

I'm *still* trying to adjust to the new lenses, and I can't see a damn thing up close to save my life. Reading is totally out of the picture. It took several hours just to be able to focus on my computer screen, and I have to be sitting about 3' away from it to do so, even now. Everything far away looks awesome, though. I hadn't realized how bad my sight had gotten with those crummy glasses in the last year. So it's nice to be able to see the leaves on trees and read street signs. But that $300 still hurts.

Jenie

Cute!

I had to go pick up some extra Swarovski today, and what did I see in the store but the most adorable little crystal butterfly beads. I can't wait to turn them into summer earrings. :)

The weather is finally changing, so that with the advent of Daylight Savings Time means I can get new product made and pictures taken for the website...woohoo!

That's all I got today. Perhaps there will be more this weekend.

Jenie

Dude.

Long time no post, ay? It's been hectic. I had a LOT of stuff to do for my visa interview for France, and I started a new job. It was crazy.

I hate the new job, but what's new? I'm bummed though, because I thought it was something other than it was, but instead, I found out it's the same old thing, working for people who trivialize what I do. I'm so tired of that. It's why I studied landscape design and why I make jewelry. I guess it's good this isn't any different; if it was, I'd probably lose sight of the bigger picture, which is that I really want to be my own woman. Which is why I went into business for myself. So thank you, big production company, for sucking.

I've been really down, lately. I don't know if it's the stress of preparing for 6 months overseas, or what, but it's been fairly hideous. I really look forward to the sabbatical in France: losing weight, working on the book, finding myself. It'll be good. Right?

ttyl,
Jenie

Squidoodled

Do You Squidoo? Thanks to Lauren, I do, and she's created a monster:

Dragonfly Design
Handcrafted Jewelry
Buy Indie

I'm still working on both HJ and BI (I want to add my blogging buddies, as well as some forums), but lemme know what you think! Several of you are listed in my lenses. :)

Soon to come: lenses for both the Tuesday Treasures and Friday Finds. :)

Jenie