New Jewelry to brag, ahem, I mean tell you about...

Last year I made a bracelet that I just loved. It was a spiral rope with a combination of olive and khaki beads. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it sold. I've finally made another one to sell and this time made one for me. I've been learning more wire work, so the clasps are fancier, with a spiral of course. I'm working on a new business card and logo. I call it the "Signature Selinger Spiral". Also, Adobe Illustrator has a cool spiral tool, so I've been fooling around with that. Then I can attach little wire spirals to my jewelry so that you know it is a genuine Fran Selinger product.

The first bracelet is, logically, the first one I made. The second is the one that I have made to sell, and the third one (no pic yet) is mine, all mine. For it I used matte instead of metallic cylindrical beads. In any event, I have a feeling that the shiny version will appeal more to my "public".

And here is the matching necklace:

Hmmm... looks better on a black background doesn't it? I thought with the darker colours that white would be better, but I guess I was wrong, for once! 

Next I'll be making some pendants for a little variety and to offer something in a lower price range. Thanks for looking!

Handmade Wire Clasps

These are really fun, especially hammering flat some of the wire! I had a chasing hammer, but also invested (! these are cheap) in a nylon hammer just for work hardening. I think that I will also sell handmade clasps at my craft shows. I have a good range of copper wire gauges to practice on, or to use for the final product.

BONUS! Wire Clasp Tutorials:

Wire Clasps from Szarka at Magpie Gemstones (#3)

Wire Links and Connectors from Karen at Magpie Gemstones

Clasp for Leather Cord from Danagonia

Hook and Eye Clasp from FireMountain Gems

All Kinds of Clasps from WigJig

I am very inspired by Szarka's jewelry. I'll post a few pics so you can see what wonders she works...

Computer Consternation

Well, I still don't have access to a web browser on my Macbook. I have a new screen and another hard drive, but we haven't been able to get in touch with the guy who is going to do the fixing. Luckily (ha!) I have a Toshiba labtop I can use to surf the web. PC's suck. But as far as uploading photos and copying files, well everything that I could possibly need is on the Mac. I'd like to start my Etsy Store (yes, finally decided that I should do this), but I have no access to my banners, product photos or pricing information. I'll need my Mac for the show this weekend (see previous post), so it can't really go away this week anyway. As long as it's fixed before we leave for Grenada.

So I'm concentrating on getting ready for this weekend's show, and packing for Grenada, of course. Wouldn't you know it... I finally got word about the Christmas craft show in Grenada and it's Dec. 11. We arrive Dec. 6. I really hate that kind of pressure, but I think I will sign up for it anyway. That is if I have any inventory left! I was complaining to my neighbour Clifton about the possibility of a small inventory. He says, "heck, you just tell dem dat you sold evryting"! Yes, he's an island man and has a totally different perspective on life than us uptight Canadians.

Here's my "to do" list" for the show:
- make some more stretchy bangle style bracelets
- paint  3 photo clip stand bases black to match colour theme ( I will use these to hang the few earrings that I have this weekend and to use at the Market in Grenada where I sell souvenir-type jewelry)
- print sign for crystal ring prices and place in plastic photo frame
- nag Jason to print large sign with my name to put on the front of my table
- figure out how sign will hang from front of table - velcro? - magnets?
- get consignment items from Yoga place to put in show

And just because I think it's sacrilege to have a blog entry without a photo:

These are "S" scrolls. When we get to Grenada, I'll be pulling out the wire working tools and making some "S" scrolls. Yes, I'm branding myself. This "S" will stand for Selinger (and stupendous, super, self-aggrandizing...) and I will add little charms like these to my work as my signature. With these, I won't need to buy a  hand stamp to make tags because I can make them myself! I really wanted to use an "F", but the stupid little cross-bar wouldn't co-operate. Effin' thing.