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MissAmyDesigns

MissAmyDesigns
MissAmy designs hip, unique, handmade gemstone jewelry. The blog follows the process from conception to creation to promotion and styling.

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The latest
2007-01-28 21:46:00
Here's the highlights of this week: I made my first sale on Etsy! I love Etsy - it's geared toward one-of-a-kind pieces, more of an independant co-op for handmade items, if you will. I definitely feel my work belongs there more than ebay. So, I took down my ebay store - I'll be using my account still to auction off clearance items eventually, but I don't think I need the storefront for that. The fees on Etsy are comparable & they store your photos for you. It's great.The other highlight of this week was Anita's Hafla party that she threw for her birthday.The party was awesome, with a really interesting mix of people. It was amazingly entertaining as Anita belly-danced with a sword on her head, twirled fire and drummed with a group of fellow entertainers. There was also much body decorating going on, including henna painting. Check out her site here - http://asyia.com/. She's performing soon up at Zorba's Greek restaurant. Maybe the DMJM girls will be up for a night out soon?...
More About: Test , Late

New Stuff
2007-01-21 02:09:00
Hi All!This week has been very eventful for me. I went to my first PMC class on Tuesday. Very, very informative. I've already ordered 2 books on amazon about it to start looking for more ideas. In class I made an angel wing using a mold. I tried to make it a little indistinct and rough. I can't wait to see how it comes out. I'm thinking I will put it on a chain with a couple other charms, probably wire wrapped gemstones. I also rediscovered a couple of manmade stones I have - a CZ and a created sapphire - that I'm going to try in a ring or two.I got my second positive feedback on ebay. Yay!I also set up a shop on http://www.etsy.com. Check it out here - http://www.MissAmyDesigns.etsy.com. I'll have a link from now on with my other links on this page.I've uploaded the entire Rose Quartz 2007 collection there. So go check it out! What are you waiting for !?!I've also made an awesome necklace - actually two that coordinate - to wear to my friend Anita's Hafla Party sh...
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More new stuff
2007-01-15 23:59:00
Well, my very good friend Chris came up with a very great idea for me to have a jewelry party at our friend Stacy's house. I've since talked to Stacy & she thinks it's a good idea too. So I guess we're all invited for whenever I can get my stuff together:)I will admit, I'm a little shy about the idea - Me? Shy? I know, I know... But I really am. I don't feel like I have enough to offer right now. But I will be working on some new collections. I've just finished my Rose Quartz 2007 collection. The final necklace shows up in an outfit a little lower down - it's the one I wore today to work.So, even though the party won't be soon, I will guarantee that it will happen & it will rock! And thanks Chris for the idea & thanks Stacy for offering to hostess. Obviously, I'll make some tasty desserts & we'll all bring our fabulousness!So here are some outfits. Last week for dieting & excercise sucked. My mother-in-law was pushed over by her dog & broke her ankle in 3 plac...
More About: Stuff

Stylings with new Jewelry
2007-01-07 18:42:00
Hi Guys!Here's a couple of outfits I worked with some new jewelry sets:These are with the new set I made as a challenge. I wanted to use rose quartz with pearls - I saw this somewhere. Then I thought - wouldn't pink pearls be great? So that's what I did. I made a matching necklace, bracelet & earrings set. I wore it with a dark brown tank sweater, jeans (of course) & a really versatile cream sweater from Target. You can tie this one a bunch of ways. The only problem is it's very snap prone. But right now it's a favorite. The jewelry here was made for the company Christmas party. I wore a different, slightly nicer outfit, of course:) Anyway, the necklace is a olive-toned unidentified gemstone, the bracelet is made with the same sterling silver chain but has a Rutilated Quartz instead for the focal bead. I'm also wearing a bangle I made from some wire. It has a simple clasp built right in. The outfit is just one of my lazy day outfits. I love, love this Gap tshirt. It...
More About: Jewelry , Jewel , With

New Blog Idea
2007-01-04 00:19:00
Hi All!I've been very busy setting up my ebay store & also doing the auction thing & shopping for a better camera for those close ups (found it!). And don't forget Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years... I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, by the way!You can check the store out here - http://stores.ebay.com/MissAmyDesignsGems toneJewelry.I put up a couple of auctions today - starting at $0.01 with No Reserve! Snatch them up!Anyway, I was thinking what direction to take the blog in today, since I'm no longer doing "assignments". And since anything I make will have a photo in my store it seems a little redundant to post every single photo here.So...Among other things I am going to try to style my pieces with real life clothes. Kind of like on www.StyleDiary.net but focused on jewelry. (If I had more confidence in my fashionista-dom I would actually post on that site, but as most of my clothes are from the Gap & Target I don't think I'm quite of that caliber - even though it...
More About: Blog , Idea

A new post - finally! I haven't been very inspire...
2006-12-05 01:01:00
A new post - finally!I haven't been very inspired. I've been forcing it. I did manage to squeeze out a few pieces though. I am anticipating starting to do the ebay thing soon. I've read the Idiot's guide & am getting to the point where I'm ready - soon. I'll probably just add links from this post once they are up. So, heads up and spread the word!First, the book that was so informative about the many angles of selling on Ebay. I learned so much:I've had to work really hard to figure out the best way to take good photos with my crappy camera. That's why these photos have been to long coming. Anyway, what I've given birth to recently:This is a set I made to coordinate with each other. The necklace is gold-plated chain with a Leopard Jasper pendant, and Jasper chip danglies. The earrings are made from gold-filled ear wires and chain & jasper nugget drops. I don't normally work with or wear gold, but I had some left over from an initial ordering spree.These are two necklaces ...
More About: Post , Spire , Final , Finally , Have

A new project...
2006-11-16 00:18:00
Hi All!I've only worked on a couple of things lately. I have been working on getting my stuff together for starting my ebay selling. I have postal mailers on the way. I've ordered packaging. And I've made my first official ebay necklace and earrings. I'll probably put older stuff up too, but these I made with ebay (and low cost) in mind.But first, the last few projects from the calender:I tried a couple pendant wraps. The first is wrapped bezel set. I wasn't as careful as I will be next time.Next is a herring bone weave pendant. I think I like it. It's a nice way to make a pendant a little more special than just wire wrapping it.OK, now for the new new stuff:The earrings are made out of silver wire & rectangle jade beads. I still need to file the earwires, they poked my neck all day. That's why it's good to wear your stuff and test it out. The necklace is silver-plated chain with a base metal barrel clasp with one rectangular jade bead.I went through McD's drive thru & ...
More About: Project

Wired out...
2006-11-10 23:35:00
Last time I forgot to show these earrings. They came before the chain mail stuff. I don't love them, but enjoyed using the wig jig.Now that we're caught up - here's more projects. I haven't attended any classes lately, but will be starting the PMC class in a couple weeks. So, I've been sticking with the calender assignments. I admit to getting bored with some of the & realizing what I'm not good at and what I'm not as interested in doing. For instance, one project I recently skipped was a ribbon necklace. So simple & something I would never wear of sell.I also realized that chain mail is not for me. Too intricate to make & not my look to wear. The pieces I have done I'm very proud of. But I tried & failed at some projects and decided to move on.Also, there was one pair of earrings after the green bead ones above that I failed miserably at. But I also didn't like them enough to carry on. I'm waiting to have more skill before I start designing and making all willy-ni...
More About: Wired

Beader's Delight...
2006-11-06 23:30:00
So, I haven't been much lately (except spending a lot of money on supplies - or so my bank account would lead me to believe).I'm making much slower headway on my projects due to the more complex nature of them. There are more tools needed & different gauges of wire, etc.I had to set one aside until I can find affordable 14 gauge wire - it's thicker and thus more expensive than ones I've been working with until now. That project is an S-clasp. I don't know that I'll use it all that much since I prefer toggle or lobster claws, but I'm still psyched to learn it. I just got the chasing hammer for it today.I've also been reading up on & exploring ebay. I'm hoping to put some of these projects up for auction. And from here on out I'm trying to use real stones & real sterling so they will be worth more to a consumer. That has also slowed my proress since I've been avoiding using the cheap beads when I began.Okay, so here is what I've done lately - not a lot.There was an eas...
More About: Deli , Delight

Gettin' Jiggy...
2006-10-29 21:26:00
I finally received my long awaited wire jig, and various wire. And I went out and bought the knitting needles I needed to make jump rings. Yay!!!So, here are the latest projects - I did all these yesterday and today.The first used the jig to make the clover-shaped links in the bracelet. Also in the photo is a bracelet made entirely of jump rings with beads - the pattern is called Coda Weave Chain Maille. I skipped the extra strip/ruffle of seed beads - we all know how I feel about them:) Also in the photo is another wire wrapped bracelet. It was supposed to be bug-shaped beads to make a "buggy" bracelet, but I'm not huge on following a recipe to the T. I just used what I had, so decided on clear and black glass beads.The next project was a pair of earrings made with the jig. Again, the clover-shaped component is made on the jig. I also mismatched the top beads since I didn't have matching, but I really like it that way.Next was jump rings!!!! I've been waiting and waiting to lear...
More About: Iggy

Knotting ham....
2006-10-27 23:35:00
So, it's been a while since last post. I've been working on the knotting days on the calendar.First, let me say that I hiked my butt all the way down to the East Trail in Naples to go see what Bead It (another bead store) had to offer. I got there and they were closed despite their posted hours. Very, very frustrating. What a let down!!!So, anyway, I ended up back at Naples Bead Shop & asked what size silk cord I would need for knotting. They are very helpful! I also got to see how they do it, since a class was being given right then. Super cool! The secret is using tweezers - which I knew you used in that class, but was puzzled as to how. Now I know!!!So, of course I ran with my pirated knowledge, all the way home, giggling an evil giggle.I first tried my hand on single knotting - the "right" way to do it. With my new knowledge, it was a cinch.So, this look like mardi gras beads - I realize. But I felt confident with the technique. That's what's important, right?Then I tried th...
More About: Knott , Knot

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