I've been Featured!

Kristy @ Shiny Adornments is a wonderful jewlery artist. She has shops on Ruby Lane and Etsy, and has been featured recently in The Aug/Sept issue of Bead Trends Magazine.
Hurray!!

Ruined two Pieces of Jewelry today :(

I am always trying to learn something new, especially working with PMC Clay.
I few weeks ago, I had ordered 4 diachronic cabs that I was going to make the into wonderful pendants.
I formed the pendants and secured the cabs (so I thought)as they clay was moist and let sit for 2 days, until totally dry. Fired and began to burnish the silver.
Well, both cabs came loose and fell out. But me, being the optimist, took the opportunity to add a patina to the silver and place the into the tumbler for a couple of hours to, at least get that end worked out.
So..my bright idea..I'll use jeweler's glue to secure the cabs. I let sit for a couple of days and all looked great...until I tried to go further and incorporate into a necklace. Don't both pop out again!
The glue left a hard, glass like finish to the spot the cabs would have sat...there was no getting it out. I even tried torching but that didn't work either.
I couldn't even reapply the PMC to secure the cab again, since the foreign glue substance would interfere and more than likely, not fuse to the previously fired silver.
So, I am out about $50 worth of silver and cabs. Really bummed.
I think I will have to try next time, putting a thin line of pmc around the cab, much like a bevel cup, to secure.
They were so pretty too!

Silver and Gold Teardrop Earrings

For my newest endeavor, I had the opportunity to try a new patina to add to my precious metal clay designs - Gold Overlay!
This was alot of fun to work with and I have future designs just swimming in my head, waiting to be created!

This design features a teardrop within teardrop cutout design, crafted from fine silver (.999), precious metal clay.
The earrings were patina'ed in two parts, half with an antiqued,aged look; the other half with sparkling particles of pure gold (91.6%) overlay.
Handforged sterling silver ear wires feature a twisted design.
Earring length: a tad over 1 1/2"

There are a few important techniques that one must follow to obtain this effect and I will be sure to post those in a couple of days, for those interested in trying this yourselves :)

Arte y Pico Award!

I just received my very first Blog Award! Many thanks to Willow Forrestall of The Sacred Oak, for nominating me...what an honor!

Winners of this award are asked to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language. Each award, if possible, should include the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog. Each award winner is asked to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize are also asked to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog (http://arteypico.blogspot.com/), so everyone will know the origin of this award.

My Top 5 Picks:

Lwgodsil's Jadis Jewelry
Michon Jewelry Blog
Smadar's Treasure
Lady Lynn's Boutique
Inspired Jewelry by Ann Burke

Love, Love, Love Labradorite!

I've added a couple pairs of Fine Silver ( PMC ) earring to both Etsy and Silvercanyons.com




Beautiful teardrop labradorite stones have been added and really compliment the design.
They better sell fast, else I am tempted to keep a pair for myself! :)

Some more fun with Precious Metal Clay

These sure are to be one of the most original pairs of earrings in your collection!
I have hand formed these adorable little flip flops from precious metal clay. Because these are hand designed, there might be a slight variation in each of the sandals.
The soles have been patterned with an abstract design, with a patina added.
The straps and little star accents in the toe area have been burnished and polished to a beautiful luster.

Etsy checkout confusing to New Etsy buyers

I have experienced something new today and don't quite know how to handle.
I sold two items last night from my Etsy shop, to two new Etsians.
I say new because they have no shops set up, zero feedback, zero purchases.

I always welcome those new to Etsy and I wish checkout would not be so confusing to them. My new customer's are not aware that they have to also pay for the items through Ebay.
I politely sent convos and emails, to cover my bases, and tried to explain the process, but have yet to receive responses. Tonight, just about 24 hours have their purchases, I decided to send invoices direct through paypal to them.
Hopefully, this will do the trick.

I am wondering, how long I should wait for a response?

Any advise???

Leather Choker Necklaces Scream "Summer Time"

Sterling and Leather..just love the combination!

My newest listing today....

The center ring imprinted with "Joy" is suspended amongst two smaller hammered sterling silver rings.

To add a bit of kick, I created a sterling "doodle" that hangs delicately to give balance to the overall look.

The rings are attached by hand wrapped sterling silver wire ends at four locations, in addition to the hand crafted clasp.

Length: approx 16"

Entrecard Is Addictive!

I first wanted to thank my Top Posters from Entrecard!
I wish I could list more, but here they are. Thank you for you support!

Simply Shiny
fwaggle.org
Gain, Make, Earn Money Online
Designing Hilary
PipeB Web Hosting
Chuvaness...Chakaness...Eclavu...
Search Engine Panel
Samples Girl
Random Ramblings
rkdsign88

So, I joined maybe 4 days ago and I am totally addicted to dropping cards. Now, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing to click the 300 card limit per day. If you constantly click the maximum of 300, it drives up your Advert price to "Too Expensive".What the heck does that mean? Can someone tell me does that hinder possible bids for you receive? Or is your blog considered popular and customers are chomping at the bit to advertise on your blog?