New Undertakings

For the Holidays this year I was lucky enough to receive everything I asked for off my "Creative Wishlist" which included all the stuff to start learning how to solder -- THANKS MOM!!! :)

I also got two pairs of Lindstrom Pliers-- every wire workers' "in-your-dreams" pliers. YIPPIIIIEEEEEE :)

Now I am making my own headpins (just ordered some fine silver wire to reduce firescale issues) with my mini torch, and I will begin soldering something soon. I'm sure I'll have a post about that as soon as it happens. :) I am really thankful that youtube exists! What a great resource for learning.

I will be teaching my *first ever* class at the Bead Bin this spring. Viking Knitting. Very cool. Sort of like a cross between knitting and chainmaille. It's actually pretty easy! I am a little nervous because I hate public speaking, but also fairly confident beause customers have been begging me to teach a class for years. It should be interesting, and I sure hope people sign up!! LOL

My last show was sensationally successful, and I am looking forward to my next show in the Wisconsin Dells in January. It's the "world's largest ice sculpting competition," with a big art fair under a heated tent in the parking lot of a restataunt next to one of the big resorts. It seems to be the most well-attended art fair in Wisconsin that month, so I'm thinking about cranking out some ice-and-snow-themed earrings and seeing how it goes!!

Will also be scheduling my annual Valentine's Day show with my step-aunt-in-law (I love that relation) who sells cards and stampin' up stuff. This will be held in Stoughton, WI at the Comfort Inn sometime in February. More info on this later.

Hoping the New Year brings bountiful success for everybody!

Back into the swing of things!

After a wedding in Florida, and extremely time consuming Halloween costumes, I am ready to get back to work!

This week I will be working on replacing and updating some items that have emptied from my inventory, and hopefully gearing up for a home show in Stoughton, still waiting on approval from the hostess :)

I think I may go away from shiny sterling for a while, and work in oxidized sterling and vintage brass exclusively... trying to create a distinctive "image" for my jewelry.

Yes, everything I make, I make because it's "pretty," but I think it might be more memorable and alluring if it was a bit more cohesive. This will be a challenge for me to limit myself, but if majoring in art in college taught me one thing, it's that I work more freely when limits are applied. If you just let me run free with a "do whatever you want," the hardest thing for me is deciding what I want to do, and then I lose all of my creative momentum.

This may be a very good move for raven's craving studios!

Arts and Crafts Open House

There will be an open house at my house on October 17th and 18th!! Featuring a handful of local artists with items such as jewelry, beads, prints and paintings, handmade cards, screen printed shirts and purses, lip balms and other bath items, HOLIDAY GIFTS GALORE!! :)

Please comment or email me if you would like any more information, or if you would like to book a home show yourself!

Fall Open House

I am planning on having an open house at my house October 17 and 18! Right now I am working on finding people who sell things other than jewelry to participate :)

New Etsy Listings!

I listed all these earrings on etsy tonight:







As well as updated a few images on other earrings! Whew!

What I'm working on!

Tonight I'll get started on these ornaments.

I'm using a Styrofoam ball and wrapping it in the ribbon, whereas in this book they use a wooden bead. I'm making "jumbo" versions. We'll see how it goes!

Middleton Good Neighbor Festival Pics

Here's a couple pictures of our booth from last weekend!

Saturday it was so cold we were wearing our winter coats and huddling under blankets! We tied our tent down with 40lb bags of salt on two corners, and there were very few moments of chasing our things that have blown away, though the wind was brutal!


Sunday it was warmer because the sun was out. It was less windy, but still chilly. After the parade there were lots of people shopping, and I did pretty well. My displays this time were satisfactory, though I don't know if I'll ever be compeltely happy with them!!! (The artist is her worst critic...) We were getting lots of compliments on how nice our booth looked.

All in all it was a decent show. The weather could have been nicer, but there were still enough sales to make it worthwhile! :)