Little Brown Bird

Trunk Show!

2011-09-18T09:07:00.004-05:00

Little Brown Bird will be participating in the 2nd Annual White Oak Interiors Trunk Show.
You can preveiw the latest LBB jewelry at LittleBrownBird.

Featuring home accessories, handbags, and hand crafted jewelry.

4 White Oak Court, Algonquin, IL

Thurs. Sept. 29 10am-6pm

Fri. Sept 30 10am-7pm

Sat. Oct. 1 10am-4pm

Hope to see you there!

Dear Sales Fairy...

2011-06-07T21:09:00.005-05:00

Dear Sales Fairy...

an Etsy Treasury

by littlebrownbird

How to Survive an Art Fair

2011-05-17T09:28:00.012-05:00

A month of preparation, making new pieces to show, making a new display, getting all my ducks in a row...and then...

This was year 3 for my participation in Fair Diddley in Woodstock, IL. A favorite event for the town and surrounding areas for 43 years, it normally draws tens of thousands of fair-goers to browse items from 400 or so of the country's best artists.

Fair Diddley 2010, beautiful weather.

For the past two years my best friend and I have enjoyed wonderful weather at the fair. We had been blessed with clear skies, plenty of sunshine, and weather in the mid 70's. It is always a long day, beginning at 5am to start setting up our booth by 7am and selling until 5pm. Lots of work, but lots of fun too. But this year, Mother Nature had other plans for us.

It began with a light mist in the morning after raining all night. We were prepared for the weather dressed in heavy sweaters and winter coats, gloves, blankets, hot coffee, etc. And we had clear plastic tarps ready to throw over our tables at a moment's notice if it started to rain. I was a bit worried when we arrived to set up to find the booth next to us taking their tent down already to pack up and bow out of the day's event. They told us the wind was too much for them and since they needed to have their tent sides down for their display, it was not safe for them to set up and risk losing thousands of dollars in merchandise if the tent blew away. "Duh, ok" I thought. What did I know? I figured having the sides of the tent down would cut down on the wind. Apparently, as I was told, you need to keep the sides up in the wind to keep the tent from blowing up like a balloon and taking off. "Duh, ok." I've always had nice weather for outdoor events to this point so I was grateful for the advice. But I decided to give it a go anyway and set up, keeping the tent sides off and grabbing the sand bags out of the car to weigh our tent down.

Soon enough, the event planners had filled our former neighbor's booth with a vendor from one of the side streets who was caught in a wind tunnel. They asked as they set up their tent if we would like to bungee our tent to theirs. "Duh, ok." Safety in numbers I thought and they seemed to have done this before. Again, I was grateful for the advice. Four of us in a row tied our tents together and weighed down with our sandbags and cement weights. Even with that, there were some tense moments with the wind!

Our display suffered a bit in presentation as we were forced to tape our earrings displays and table cloths to the tables. But a handy roll of clear packing tape is a must when doing a show! The tape also came in handy when setting up the tent, which had been stored all winter in the garage. Upon opening up the tent we noticed that a field mouse had chewed it's way into the heavy canvas bag and chewed a hole in the tent top where we found piles of seeds, feathers, and other provisions for waiting out a long cold winter.

"Grrrrr!!!" A roll of canvas tent repair tape would have been a good thing to have on hand but we had none. With a threat of rain, we had no choice but to tape up the hole with our handy packing tape and hope it would work-it did.

While the wind was heavy all day, our modified display held up well. We kept everything low, eliminated any tall standing displays, and anchored down what we could. I had been prepared to have any signs and price labels taped to the table before hand. I did have a brief heart attack when, as we were still setting up, a heavy gust of wind blew through our tent and several boxed earrings that hadn't yet been secured went flying down the street!!! "DOH!!!!" Thankfully, several people went scurrying after them and we were able to recover everything.

It was a freezing cold day with a constant threat of rain, but we managed to keep our spirits up. We laughed with fair-goers about the wind, sang ("...it's a sunshine day! Everybody's smiling...") and danced all day, wrapped in blankets to keep warm. (A stash of Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade in the cooler helped a bit too!) I actually think the icy weather helped break the ice with customers who stopped in for a look. Sales were good, a testament to our prime location (directly on the Square and near the Starbucks booming with business on such a cold day) as many shoppers told us that they would not bother going down the side streets in this weather, and instead just go around the square and head home. I feel for those vendors on the side streets caught in those wind tunnels, I'm sure they had a rough go of it.

In the end, it was a good show and quite an experience. I finally feel like a show veteran now, having finally experienced doing a show in crappy weather. And I thank all the intrepid shoppers who didn't let a little bad weather dampen their spirits. Die-hard fair-goers know that a little wind and rain doesn't mean they can't find something really special and original, made from the heart. A big thanks to all the vendors who stuck it out all day! And huge thanks to my best friend who I will truly have to bribe next time to help me with another outdoor show. I honestly couldn't do it without her help. You're the bestest, Pokeedot!...."ACHOO!" (Oh ya, and have lots of vitamin C, tissue, and cold medicine on hand as well.)

All better now!

2011-03-20T14:37:00.003-05:00

I have recently become aware of a teeny tiny glitch on my website that was preventing anyone from outside of Illinois to purchase from The Little Brown Bird. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience! Be assured, the problem has now been fixed and once again, all items from The Little Brown Bird can be purchased by anyone on the planet!

I hope you will stop back soon and take a browse through all the new items that I will be posting from my upcoming Spring 2011 collection.

As always, thank you all for supporting me and my hopeless addiction to all things shiny. I'd love to know what items strike your fancy the most, please comment. And I hope you take the time to share links to your favorite items from the site with your friends, or build your own wish list. Spread the love!

Love to all!

XOXO

Mary

Lost in Transition

2011-03-07T08:42:00.003-06:00

There will be no pictures with this post. LOL! You do NOT want to see my studio right now!

For the past few weeks, I've been moving my studio and reorganizing everthing. You know, so I can work faster, find everything easier. I'm in the process of moving my studio to another space and, well, I can't find anything!

I have been organizing tools and supplies into drawers to make the space a bit cleaner. Each drawer set is designated for a specific technique or craft. Sounds like a really organized operation, doesn't it?

However, as an artist, I believe in a different sort of "organization system". I've been so used to my stacks of very highly "organized" piles. I'm definately one of those out of sight, out of mind people.

I will soon have the cleanest, most organized studio in which not a single thing can be found!

LOL!!!!!!!

(sound familiar to any of my artist friends?)

Experimenting with Metal Etching

2011-02-07T14:50:00.005-06:00

I'm always looking for new techniques to try out, stretching my imagination, and pushing the boundaries of what I think I'm capable.

This time I wanted to experiment with etching metal.

There are a few techniques that can be used to etch metals such as copper, brass, or bronze.
For this first try, I used an etching solution. (Next time I will try a less toxic form of etching)

I started with a small piece of scrap copper sheet and sanded it with 600 grit sand paper.
Then I cleaned the copper off using an acetone solution to make sure any film, grit, or coating was removed.

Next, I needed a "resist" with which to apply my design on the metal. There are other methods that will allow me to produce my own unique designs, but for this project I used an ink stamp pad to stamp a design onto my piece of copper and let it dry for about 5 to 10 minutes. I laid the copper down on a large piece of tape, covering the back side so the etchant would not effect it, and left a long piece of tape extending so that I could retrieve the piece from the solution more easily.

After submerging the copper into the etchant solution, I used a small air bubbler to agitate the liquid, constantly exposing new metal to the etchant. (Keep a cover over the container to prevent splashing!)

As the etchant wears away at the copper piece, the areas covered with the resist will remain untouched.

After about 20-30 minutes, the design was etched into the metal. I used acetone to remove the remaining resist.

After a bit of sanding, cleaning, and applying a heat patina, I think I ended up with a pretty cool test piece! I can't wait to get started on one of my original designs!

By Little Brown Bird

New Year, New Metal

2011-01-20T15:58:00.000-06:00

It's a new year so I thought I would challenge myself by working with a new metal (for me). I have been dying to try using bronze metal clay. It's a totally different texture than the silver that I'm used to, making it a bit different to work with. But so far, I'm hooked. I've done a few trial and error (mostly error) pieces so far. But with practice, I think this will be a medium I will keep using for a long time.

This is one of my first pieces. I call it Archeology for obvious reasons. This piece was probably over heated to achieve the affect, but I kind of like it. It's rustic, interesting, and it looks like it has a story that's dying to be told. One of a kind, of course.

This piece will be listed soon in my shop LittleBrownBird on Etsy, and on my website The Little Brown Bird.

Buy Handmade for the Holidays

2010-11-24T17:12:00.000-06:00

In a time when people are feeling the pinch from the economy, it's important to remember the things for which we are thankful. Family, friends, furbabies; these are the things that make our lives rich.

Yet, it's also at this time of year that we want to show our appreciation to those loved ones. Sure, we could camp out in line for the all early bird deals at the big box stores, or spend hard earned cash on the latest video game or "Tickle Me Elmo". But do those things really mean something? Will that gift that they begged for be sitting in a closet somewhere in a month, a week, by the end of the day?

"I like the idea of the handmade Christmas...shopping not just to consume, but to get gifts that are more unique and special because they're handmade. Supporting individuals rather than large companies feels much more meaningful in this economy, when everyone is having a hard time financially."~ Julia from Juliaa

ITS aMAZEing Topaz Teardrop Garnet and Tanzanite Pendant

by JewelrybySolange

Let me suggest getting them something that will be treasured long after the holidays are over.

When you invest in a gift that is carefully and skillfully handcrafted by an artisan, you are investing in something that may become a treasured heirloom. Artists take great pride in the work they create. Ask any artisan, no matter what their genre, and they will tell you that it is the love of their art, their heart and soul that is within every piece they create.

Bali Style Lampwork and Sterling Silver Bracelet

by stoutdg2

"I love the look and feel of homemade products. They just feel like more love and care has been put into them for the most part. There are so many unique things that people make. I love unique, colorful and different things."~ Judy from jemsbyjbandcompany

"Hands down, the handcrafted items are superior in construction, design, and spirit. And I speak about ALL types of items from paper goods to scarves, clothing, bird houses, etc., not just jewelry. The inherent care and pride cannot be purchased over the counter – unless, of course, it’s handmade!"~ Pam from cooljewelrydesign

Many artisans will even create custom works just for you. These are truly unique, one of a kind pieces that will hold a special place in the heart of its recipient.

Three Tags Custom Name or Number Nephrite Jade Silver Necklace

by ovgilliesdesigns

"I like to support small businesses by buying something personally handmade directly from the artist. Cut out the big box stores and get something special, direct from the artist's hands to you."~ Mary from LittleBrownBird

The holidays are upon us and I haven't even begun thinking about what gifts I might be giving the loved ones in my life. Whatever those gifts will be I know three things: that they will be special, they will be made with love, and they will be handmade.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

***********************************************************************

All of the pieces shown above and many others from the Jewelry on Etsy Team can be found by searching JETTEAM in the search box on Etsy's home page.

Jewelry on Etsy Team Trunk Show

2010-11-17T08:22:00.000-06:00

The Jewelry on Etsy Team will be having a team-wide on line Trunk Show on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

Come meet this wonderful team of talented jewelry artisans, share some laughs, and view the collections. It's a fantastic way to interact with the artists while checking off items for that ever growing holiday gift list. The show will be at 8pm EST in the Virtual Labs on Etsy. Team members will be featuring some of their favorite works, tell us how they were made, and ready to answer any questions LIVE!

This show was a huge hit last year so come early and grab a seat in the virtual lab. You don't want to miss a thing! You must be a registered Etsy user to participate. It only takes a minute to register, but then you can come join the fun, mark your favorites, and purchase on the spot during the show!

And, as always, you can view beautiful handmade jewelry from the entire Jewelry on Etsy Team by searching JETTEAM in the search box on Etsy's home page.

Spotlight On: JemsByJBandCompany

2010-05-28T06:22:00.005-05:00

Judy and Bill of Jems by JB and Company have a fine eye for detail. I love the mix of gemstones and silver in their wonderful bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

The use of color in this Etsy shop is so refreshing! Isn't this bracelet just yummy for summer?

Looking through JemsbyJBandCompany is like walking through a candy shop and you just can't help but want to sample everything!

I encourage you to check out this shop full of wonders.

***********************************************************************************

Jemsbyjbandcompany is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET). You can find more items from talented JET members by searching JETTEAM in the search box at the top of Etsy's home page.

Fair Diddley 2010: Part 2

2010-05-17T11:03:00.004-05:00

Fair Diddley 2010 was a success! The rain held off for the whole day and the weather turned out to be beautiful. There was another great crowd. My tent had a steady flow of traffic for most of the day. I got to meet one of my JET team members from Etsy, Tammy of ArtMadeByTammy. I even had people stop by that remembered LittleBrownBird from last year. Not a bad turn out at all. Here are a few pictures from the day.

The crowd at Fair Diddley 2010

The weather was sunny and hot, just a bit windy at times.

My booth and "Headless Jane"

Thanks to all that came out to support me! I hope you all love your new jewelry and hair accessories! If you missed the fair, you can always stop by my shop, LittleBrownBird on Etsy and purchase from there.

Fair Diddley 2010

2010-05-15T09:24:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again, Fair Diddley is here! Located on the Square in Woodstock, IL , this is the 42nd year for this annual event. The fair will take place on Sunday, May 16, 2010 from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Little Brown Bird will be participating again this year. I will be located just off the square on Main Street. I'd love if you would stop by! I have lots of new items in addition to those seen in my Esty shop.

It's always a great crowd with hundreds of crafters selling thousands of handmade items. Hope to see you there!

Spotlight On: Designs by Victoria

2010-04-28T07:10:00.003-05:00

Steampunk is alive and well at DbVictoria, a wonderfully creative shop on Etsy.

Steampunk Garnet and Gears Brass Earrings

Full of fantasy and frills, Victoria creates whole worlds of wonder with her jewlery collections. She features not only Steampunk, but Neo-Victorian, hats, purses,and costume items.

Watch Spring OOAK Brass Steampunk Earrings

Black Steampunk Gothic Lolita Parasol

My favorite pieces from DbVictoria are the gorgeous parasols embellished with lace and hand-beading. They are a stunning step back in time.

Black and Gold Parasol

**********************************************************************

DbVictoria is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET), a collective of top-quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's home page.

Spotlight On: SendingLoveGallery

2010-04-21T19:41:00.002-05:00

If you need to send something very special, SendingLoveGallery has it. Upon stepping into this shop on Etsy, I was captivated by all the gemstones. And, of course, I'm a sucker for glass beads. These Coral Peach Vintage Glass earrings and matching necklace would fit perfect into my personal collection.

There is a stunning variety of color and yummy gemstones to choose from. I love, love, LOVE SendingLoveGallery!

******************************************************************

SendingLoveGallery is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET) , a collective of top-quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's home page.

Spotlight On: AdroitJewelers

2010-04-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

Beauty and brains. That's what I think of when I visit AdroitJewelers on Etsy. This shop is full of stunning silver and glass beaded jewelry. The wire-wrapped pieces in sterling silver with seaglass are fantastic! But the brains behind this beauty's shop are these non-pierced earrings!

What a fabulous idea for those who don't have pierced ears! They fit right over the curve of your ear and hang just like a sexy pair of hoops. Now that's thinking outside the box!

And these swirly dangles of silver goodness named the Black Dot earrings are my favs! I actually own a pair of these that I received in a lucky jewelry swap and I wear them all the time. They go with absolutely everything.

Please visit AdroitJewelers and find your favorites!

***********************************************************

AdroitJewelers is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET), a collective of top-quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's home page.

Spotlight On: Capital City Crafts

2010-04-12T07:02:00.004-05:00

Barbara Moore is the creative soul behind the wonderful Etsy shop, CapitalCityCrafts. I have been a fan of CCC for a long time. I have always loved Barbara's rings. They are each rustic, edgy, and beautiful. Would you expect anything less from an experienced metal smith?

Zigzag Sterling Ring

Barbara's style is diverse, having something in her shop for women of many styles. Elegant pearls, sterling silver, gem stones...all stunning.

Royal Purple Pearl Earrings

CapitalCityCrafts happily accepts orders for wholesale, as well as bridal orders, and will ship worldwide.

Kyanite & Bronze Pearl Bracelet

Blue Sky Earrings

You can find more of Barbara's wonderful creations at her shop, CapitalCityCrafts, which is updated with new styles regularly. You can subscribe to her shop feed to keep updated on her newest additions by clicking the RSS button in her shop. I can't wait to see what she'll come up with next!

****************************************************************************

Capital City Crafts is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET), a collective of top-quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's homepage.

Spotlight On: Designs by Cher

2010-04-03T07:10:00.004-05:00

If you're looking for something fresh and unique, stop by Designs by Cher on Etsy.

Cher offers a wide range of jewelry featuring sterling silver, semi-precious stones, and copper.

Framed in Floral Travertine Stone Necklace

Which camp are you in, Camp Jacob, or Camp Edward? These bracelets, based on the Movie New Moon from the Twilight series are more than charming!

Camp Edward, Bella's Charm Bracelet

Camp Jacob, Bella's Charm Bracelet

Cher has more than just finished jewelry pieces in her shop. Jewelry designers can also find handmade findings, clasps, and connectors with a bit of a twist (or swirl).

Hand Forged Antique Copper Large 'S' Clasp

What will you find when you visit Designs by Cher? I bet it will be something special!

********************************************************************************
Designs by Cher is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET)- a collective of top quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found on Etsy by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's home page.

Spotlight On: Brooke Scarborough Jewelry Designs

2010-03-20T21:19:00.004-05:00

Get ready for a treat. Brooke Scarborough of Brooke Scarborough Jewelry Designs is one very talented jewelry designer.

I love Brooke's keen sense of style and composition in her work. A kindred spirit, Brooke has a background in interior design. Her balance of color and geometry are certainly to be desired in her Lemon Quartz Bubble Earrings.

This heart pendant is made of fine silver and hangs from a hand-forged chain with hand forged S-clasp. Stunning!

But THIS is so yummy! Her Lemon Meringue Pie necklace is dessert for the eyes.

All of Brooke's jewelry can be seen at her shop on Etsy, BrookeJewery and in local San Diego shops. Treat yourself to these delicious baubles!

*********************************************************************************

BrookeJewelry is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET) - a collective of devoted top-quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found on Etsy by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's home page.

Spotlight: Vandiva Fashion Jewelry

2010-03-13T08:12:00.006-06:00

If your feeling a bit low after the long winter, here's a little something to cheer you up. Vandiva is a wonderful jewelry shop on Etsy run by a mother, Angelika, and her daughter, Vanessa.

At first look, I was amazed by all the yummy gemstones. They look good enough to eat, especially this Easter Gemstone Necklace that reminds me of jelly beans! Perfect with Easter just around the corner.

Vandiva has a variety of styles for all tastes. One of my absolute favorites is this one.

A prehistoric fossil that looks oh, so modern. A natural moment in time, preserved for an eternity.

Vandiva also has a whimsical side. This mink fur ring comes in both pink and black and is so much fun!

Angelika, a professional language translator by day, is a woman of many talents. Aside from the gorgeous jewelry at Vandiva, Angelika also has another shop devoted to handbags and clutches. Ma Belle Cherie offers beautiful clutches in contemporary patterns, as well as some in leather, or covered in tiny handmade fabric flowers. They are a stunning addition to an everyday outfit or even a wedding or bridesmaid gown.

I hope you stop by Vandiva and Ma Belle Cherie and pick up something beautiful for yourself or a friend.

**Vandiva and Ma Bell Cherie are fellow members of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET)- a collective of devoted top-quality jewelry designers on Etsy. Other items from JET members can be found on Etsy by using the search term JETTEAM at the top of Etsy's home page.

Things I Love: Gold Jewelry

2010-02-25T12:59:00.008-06:00

We are nearing spring time and, for the new season, I have been adding something very different to my jewelry collection. Gold.

Now, I'm typically one of those people that swear they like nothing but silver jewelry. I can't explain my addiction to gold jewelry lately, except maybe that the winter has been long and I'm yearning for warmth and sunshine.

Gold Paisley Pendant Necklace with Pearl Accent

Many of my new pieces are done with gold filled and gold plated elements, mixed with pearls, glass, or other metals.

Gold Leaf Earrings

A common accent color among these pieces is a soft spa blue. I love the look and adding a bit of something blue gives it a fresh, light aspect. I think many of these pieces would look great on a bride or her bridesmaids for an elegant contemporary wedding.

Gold Leaf Pendant Necklace

Butterfly Verde Filigree and Gold Double Necklace layered with

Vintage Inspired Gold Filigree Bluebird Necklace

Filigree is also another latest obsession of mine. In some pieces, I've combined gold filigree and antique brass to which I've given a verdigris patina.

Gold and Verde Filigree Necklace with Crystal Tear Drop

The color combination is to-die-for! Look how the verdigris patina jumps off the gold chain. Am I the only one drooling right now?

Butterfly Verde Filigree and Gold Double Necklace

Matte Gold Leaf and Green Quartz Nugget Necklace

I've also combined gold with some semiprecious stones. I love the juxtaposition of gold, with it's elegant allure, against the natural semiprecious stone.

Amazonite and Gold Bauble Necklace

All of the gold jewelry you see here is presently available in my shop, LittleBrownBird on Etsy.

Winter Wonderpup!

2009-12-26T16:54:00.001-06:00

My poor puppy! Welcome to winter in Illinois, Maizy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2009-12-25T07:42:00.004-06:00

It's Christmas! Hope your holiday is filled with joy and candy canes. And if your family is anything like mine on Christmas, those candy canes had better be garnishing a bottomless peppermint martooni!

Maizy's first Christmas

Maizy and I, and her new little stuffed reindeer, wish a very merry Christmas to you and yours. Try not to kill each other.

Things I Love: Vintage Elegance

2009-12-23T07:47:00.006-06:00

I have started to list some vintage items in my shop. Things that I have special memories from my childhood, many items dating from the 1940's, 50's, 60's, and 70's that I'm sure will find new life in a new home.

This item, already sold, is a gorgeous Seth Thomas chime clock.

I have just listed a set of two beautiful vintage crystal hurricane lamps. They date back to the 1940's and have been in my family since that time. They put out a soft light that adds the most interesting ambience to the room with their etched shades and prism crystals dangling below.

I sure hope they find a loving home!

I have many vintage items that will start appearing in my shop, Little Brown Bird, including jewelry, housewares, home decor, and fashion items. Keep checking back or subscribe to my shop feed to get updates as they occur. (Shop feed button is in the right column of my shop home page)

Things I Love: Wearable By Design

2009-11-19T15:11:00.005-06:00

Have a look at Wearable By Design, stunning silver handmade jewelry by Jennifer Smith-Righter of Redwood City, California. Jenn's designs have long been a favorite of mine. She has the most beautiful organic creations juxtaposed with the beauty of mechanical objects. Some of her designs are mind-blowingly intricate.

Jenn was also kind enough to contribute to my holiday cookie recipe collection on my food blog, All Up in My Kitchen. Please check out her favorite cookie recipe for Cream Wafers.

cookie recipe

A Walk in the Park: "The Fen"

2009-11-02T16:17:00.002-06:00

This morning, Maizy and I took a walk across the street to the nature preserve. Small by most standards, The Fen sprawls on for acres and is surprisingly vast when you start to trek through it. A place where natural mineral springs bubble up from under the earth at random points among the soft rolling hills and valleys. Where the sky is wide open and the prairie grass stands six feet tall.

And it's all in my back yard! A short walk past town homes, condo buildings and the water filtration plant lies this beautiful, peaceful, untouched native prairie. Yes, I said prairie. This is Illinois after all.

(please click on the pictures below for a closer look)

Maizy and I walked along a short paved path surrounded by trees, winding through the park up to the entrance to the nature preserve. Although we couldn't go down into the valley of the preserve because dogs are not allowed there ( I will leave that for another day by myself), we were able to walk the path around the perimeter, meeting several other dogs and their owners along the way. The view is magnificent!

It was perfect weather with nothing but big blue sky, a good breeze, and temps in high fifties. Normally, I would consider that a chilly morning, but the sun shining on our faces and the brisk walk was more than enough to warm us. Maizy, only a mere eight inches tall or so, had to stay close behind my feet at times so as not to get lost in the tall grass. But she had a blast furiously chasing down every fallen leaf that blew past.

This area is part of a network of nature preserves that Illinois has designated as natural, native prairie land. The program hopes to save these areas in their perfect and natural prairie state, just as it would have been hundreds of years ago. The soft, rolling hills sway with six foot high grass, cat tails, and bubbling streams.

I'm fortunate to live so close to this prize while still considering myself a city girl. I just hope the weather stays nice a bit longer so we can enjoy more hikes like today. And I just really wanted to share it with all of you!

~~~~~

Handcrafted Jewelry Show!

2009-10-27T09:40:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year, when craft shows are in full force and people start gearing up for the holidays. The latest addition to my show schedule is the Handcrafted Jewelry Show.

This show should be a great one for jewelry addicts in the Chicago area. Twenty five jewelry artisans, including yours truly, will be displaying their finest for the holiday season. It is ALL handmade jewelry, so unfortunately I won't be able to display my other accessories such as scarves and handbags. But if you see anything in my shop, Little Brown Bird, please contact me at my shop on Etsy and I will bring it along to the show just for you! Or shop on line if you can't make it to the show. Delivery is free on most items and I do ship internationally!

Jewelry Giveaway!

2009-10-22T11:20:00.002-05:00

I am giving away a pair of earrings on another blog site. Jewelry by Solange is hosting a fantastic giveaway with some great prizes from a variety of designers. You can see the details of the giveaway here and join in the fun!

A New Dog in Town!

2009-10-22T11:03:00.002-05:00

My employer just got a new puppy. A black lab named Maggie. She's 10 weeks old, a typical puppy size, yet dwarfs my lil' Maizy who is all of 4 pounds now and around 18 weeks. In this picture, Maggie has just come to work and met all of us, then went right over and helped herself to Maizy's food bowl. Don't worry, Maizy gave her a good snarl and held her own. Look at Maggie's paws! They are bigger than Maizy's face!

My lil' fur nugget has doubled in size. She was about 6" long and two pounds when I got her. Now, at 4 pounds, she is 12" long from nose to tail. She's the perfect size right now and I keep joking that I'm going to feed her nothing but cigarettes and coffee to stunt her growth. She's now big enough to climb the stairs by herself, but still tiny enough to tuck under my arm while I go on a quick errand or two.

Maizy has lost most of her puppy coat and her adult coat is just now starting to fill in. It will take several months, I'm told, to fill in completely. She needs some hair so she can start looking like a proper pomeranian. People keep thinking she's a long haired Chihuahua! The nerve! She's just the cutest little fur nugget, with or without all her hair!

Fall Finds From Little Brown Bird

2009-09-22T10:21:00.003-05:00

WTF happened to summer??!!! It's already officially fall and the leaves all over my yard are proof of that. I really don't mind the fall, it's one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. I just don't really care for the cold that starts to come with it.

To make myself feel better about the changing weather, I began to knit and crochet.

I made some scarves, perfect to fend off those cold mornings. A short, mini-scarf, tied at the neck and finished off with two large pom poms is my favorite.

And why should cold weather mean dull and drab? I made these scarves using bright colors that look great with a fall or winter coat. They are long and luscious, and fun with varied sizes of pom poms at the ends.

I will be adding more of these scarves and other knitted items into my shop as the season goes on. I will take special orders until November 1st, just contact me at my shop on Etsy.

Meet Maizy!

2009-09-12T09:36:00.003-05:00

After losing my precious Zuzu unexpectedly last May, this house has been way too quite. The emptiness left without Zuzu was almost unbearable. Actually, I still have my moments. But those moments are fewer now that Maizy is here.

Maizy is a pure breed pomeranian. She was adopted at 11 weeks old, just a 2 pound lil' fur nugget, and cute as can be!

Unfortunately, Maizy was diagnosed, just 4 days after adopting her, with a deadly canine virus, Parvo. She began vomiting a lot, had a fever, a dazed depressed look on her face, and had terrible diarrhea. I rushed Maizy to a 24 hour animal care facility where she was diagnosed and spent 5 days with round the clock care. She received numerous plasma transfusions, IV liquids, and hand feedings through a syringe. The vet bill grew at an alarming rate to almost $2000! Many prayers were said and I received countless well wishes from friends, family and from across the internet.

It was determined that Maizy's illness had been contracted before she was adopted. Parvo is a very serious virus that can claim the life of a dog in less than 24 hours without treatment. It takes about 7 to 14 days after contracting the virus for symptoms to appear. As I researched it, I discovered that a non-vaccinated dog can pick up this virus as easily as a child getting a cold. The virus can live for months on grass, clothing, anywhere, and can be tracked into your own home on your shoes without you ever being near an infected dog. Since Maizy was just a puppy, her vaccinations had not yet been completed. She had unknowingly been exposed to the virus prior to coming to live with me and only showed symptoms a few short days later. Were it not for the prompt treatment that she received, especially at her young age and low weight, she would not have survived.

Maizy is now better, her body organs having been supported while she built up the necessary anti-bodies to fight the virus. She is fifteen weeks old now and weighs a plump 3 pounds! She's active and playing just like a normal puppy and hopefully she will not develop future health problems stemming from the stress on her organs.

I wish to thank everyone at Animal Emergency of McHenry County, Dr. Dan at Animal Medical Center of Algonquin, friends and family for their support, and all my internet friends for their prayers. And Maizy sends her sweet wet puppy kisses!

If your dog has not been vaccinated for Parvo or other just as dangerous canine illnesses, please do so today! There may not be time to second guess yourself. Remember that some vaccinations, such as your puppy's first vaccinations, are not completely effective until all rounds of vaccines are completed. Protect your puppy by not allowing them in areas that are frequented by other dogs until their vaccinations are complete. If your puppy is in training, ask the facility how often the room is sanitized with bleach, as this is the only thing that can kill some viruses like Parvo. (I spent 4 days bleaching my entire house, yard, car, clothes, dishes, EVERYTHING!!!)

Maizy has passed her follow-up exams with flying colors and is not contagious. She can sit and lay down on command but is having trouble staying and coming when called. We're working on that. She comes to work with me every day and is doing quite well now.

New "Vintage" from Little Brown Bird on Etsy

2009-08-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite new pieces are vintage inspired. I made these recently, using brass filigree incorporated with images set in resin.

I love how these turned out! Either on a standard 18" chain, or extra long to dangle freely, these are frilly and feminine.

You can find these pieces soon in my shop on Etsy. Come visit Little Brown Bird.

Fresh Designs from Little Brown Bird by Mary Ryan

2009-07-14T08:29:00.003-05:00

Can you believe that summer is half over already? It goes way too fast. So much fun to be had outdoors, and I have been squeezing in a little creative time as well. I have been working hard this summer on lots of new designs that will soon be popping up in my shop.

If you haven't been by recently, you've already missed a few new things that have found new homes. Here's a taste of the most recent goodies.

Sage vintage inspired glass and gold earrings

Sage vintage inspired glass and gold necklace

Coffee and cream polka dot floral headband

Pink and coral brocade floral brooch/hair clip
with hand embroidered and beaded floral center

Vintage inspired one of a kind chenille zippered clutch

Rich plum sheer scarf with singed edging, includes two matching

frayed edge clips (one plum, one fawn)

to be worn however you choose

Fawn sheer scarf with singed edging, includes two matching

frayed edge clips (one plum, one fawn)

to be worn however you choose

Please stop by soon and see what else is new! Little Brown Bird on Etsy, still offering free shipping worldwide on most items. See individual listings for details.

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-07-01T15:52:00.002-05:00

Today is my birthday, I won't tell you how old I am. The fact that I won't say should tell you something. Suffice it to say, I've been pondering where my life is going. I think we all get to feel a little bit like there are things we wish we did, or knew, when we were younger. Maybe we could have gotten a better head start on life. Maybe our lives would be completely different (good or bad) if we just made one different critical decision. Anyway, this traffic sign in my home town always seemed odd to me. But today, on my birthday, I think it's pretty clear. Gotta do something about that.

Things I love: Food and Wine Pairings for Dummies!

2009-06-20T14:57:00.004-05:00

I love this little widget that I just found! Check it out below. This little widget will take all the guess work out of matching the perfect wine to any food. Natalie MacLean's Food and Wine Matcher. It will have a permanent home in the side bar of my food blog, All Up in My Kitchen.

Natalie MacLean's Drinks Matcher

2009-06-20T14:37:00.001-05:00

A New Clutch Handbag! by Little Brown Bird

2009-06-18T15:57:00.004-05:00

Black and Gold Striped Clutch Handbag
Originally uploaded by littlebrownbird

The newest addition to my handmade handbag collection is this black and gold striped clutch. It has a classic, yet contemporary look and a yummy soft top cuff with a convenient wrist loop. Inside is a large inner pocket sewn into the beautiful black satin jacquard lining. Snap closure. 15"w x 7"h (38.1cm x 17.78cm)

This bag will be listed soon on Etsy in my shop, http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com/

When Good Shrubs Go Bad!

2009-06-04T16:33:00.001-05:00

This is my landscaper...

THIS IS MY LANDSCAPER ON CRACK!!!!!

I came home to find a man with a power hedge trimmer playing out horror movie's greatest hits on my landscaping.

What once was a happy lil' shrub, minding its own business,
soaking up the sun, looking all pretty along my front walk...

...is now the BLACK HOLE you see exposing the ugly gas meter on the side of the house!
The branches are just hanging off the one they left.
They went completely POSTAL on every other shrub all along the front of the house. I'm afraid to look out back.

And I can't even stop them before they do it because they are hired by our association's management company.
Oh, ya, my monthly dues are paying for this attack!

And this was their idea of CLEANING UP AFTER THE CARNAGE!!!

Be sure and hug your foliage tonight before you go to bed, for you never know if it's the last time you'll see it!
Don't they know they are contributing to global warming?

OH THE HUMANITY!

I'm Blushing

2009-05-24T08:27:00.004-05:00

Yay! Another satisfied customer! I have to say, when I create something that I think is pretty darn good (ahem...) I love to show it off to my friends, family, coworkers. I think they have all seen everything from my Etsy shop before it went on line. And I get feed back from them, if changes should be made, or if they like it the way it is, whatever. I can usually tell by the tone of voice if they really think it's great or if they are just "being nice". But still, what do I expect my mother or coworkers to say. (I can usually count on my sister to be brutally honest!) But I have to say, it is freakin' awesome when I hear great feedback from someone outside the circle of friends.

I just received this picture from wonderful buyer on Etsy who purchased my Twilight Headband. It looks so awesome on her that I asked if I could use her picture. I'm so happy she likes it! YAY!!!

Memorial Day Weekend in Crystal Lake at Mayfair Furniture and Carpet

2009-05-22T10:17:00.005-05:00

Please check out the Mayfair web site for all upcoming sales

and to find links to all of your favorite manufacturers.

Mayfair is the areas best resource for one-stop shopping for

all your home furnishing and flooring needs.

Mayfair Furniture and Carpet...Beautiful homes begin here!!!

Tutorial: Jewelry Display Board

2009-05-22T05:00:00.002-05:00

The summer is here and it's festival season. It's time to pack up and take my show on the road. Setting up for an outdoor show presents a unique problem that I usually don't have to deal with when doing a home party... WIND! I needed a way to display my earrings, pendants, and hair accessories. Those are the things that I usually have a large quantity of and don't always need a formal display like a bust or mannequin.

I wanted something that could hold a lot of items, look nice enough to use for a home party, able to be pre-loaded for quick set up, secure enough for an outdoor fair without being blown to bits, and able to be reconfigured for anything I might want to display in whatever way I wished to display them.

I made two display boards, each using a 2' x 2' piece of plywood covered in a natural colored fleece remnant from the fabric store (stapled on the back). I put a couple of ring hooks on the back for easy hanging when needed, or I can put them on easels.

I also added "hinges" on the back by using heavy duty self-adhesive velcro strips. Laying the boards face down on the floor side by side, I took the soft half of the velcro strip, cut it in half and added each half to the back top third of each board, near the inside edge. The other half of the velcro strip (the spiky half) was left in one long strip and pressed firmly into place over the soft halves of the strip. I did the same on the bottom third of the boards. This created a hinge to hold the boards together so they would stand on their own, but made it easy enough to separate the boards for transport or to be displayed in a different manner.

I took elastic in the same natural color as the fabric on the boards and cut it to length. Since I had a 2' x 2' board and the strip needed to wrap all the way around, I cut it 44"-46". (Tip: you can make your boards any size, just cut your elastic shorter than the circumference of the board to make sure the fit is snug when stretched.) I then sewed the ends of the elastic together, creating a giant "rubber band". I slipped the bands over the board and positioned them where I wanted. Now I could load my earring cards and hang necklaces! The bands keep everything in place and can be added or removed depending on my needs.

It worked great for a home show where I had each board on a separate table set on easels. At the fair, the boards were velcro-"hinged" together. And at home, I have my boards hanging on the wall in my workroom making it easy to store my unsold pieces and new ones as I make them.

***************************************************************

Mary Ryan is an Artist, Jewelry Designer, and Interior Design Consultant. Please visit her on line shops at http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com , http://thelittlebrownbird.com , and http://urbanmetal.etsy.com

Tutorial: Greeting Card Earring Display

2009-05-21T09:39:00.006-05:00

Displaying jewelry at a show is always a challenge. There is never one really great solution that works for all situations. And depending on the type of show, time of year, and number of people attending, I always want to give my display a sort of custom look.

My next show was to be a home party, during the holiday season, in a high rise condo in Chicago. Since I was low on funds and crunched for time, the hunt was on for a way to display my jewelry with the biggest bang for the buck. My solution came to me as I passed the dollar discount bin at the craft store. Piles and piles of packages of blank holiday gift cards! Playing on the holiday theme, here's what I came up with...

I used sets of blank greeting cards in two different sizes, matching coasters, and blank scrapbook paper cut-outs. I chose three different styles with similar color schemes. Using a tiny hole punch, I made holes in the cards for the earring wires and displayed the cards like festive little table tents. I used the larger sets of greeting cards for longer earrings and even some necklaces. The two different sizes allowed me to have different levels on my table, making the display more interesting.

Of course, some pieces were to heavy or too long for the cards to hold. I used the matching coasters and scalloped paper cut-outs to display those pieces directly on the table.

The whole display cost me around $10! And because the earrings were already pre-hung on the cards before the party, it was easy to transport and took only minutes to set up. Maximum flash, for minimum cash!

*************************************************************************

Mary Ryan is an Artist, Jewelry Designer, and Interior Design Consultant. Please visit her on line shops at http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com , http://thelittlebrownbird.com , and http://urbanmetal.etsy.com

Vote for me!!!

2009-05-19T17:36:00.002-05:00

My Blue Silk Flower Hair Pins have been included in the voting section of the Etsy blog! Top sellers are awarded a spot in the Etsy gift guides.

If you have the time, and it only takes a second, won't you please click here to vote for me?

Thanks!!!!

Fair Diddley- part 4

2009-05-18T09:29:00.001-05:00

More scenes from Fair Diddley.

The Woodstock Opera House was a perfect backdrop for the fair, and would you look at that sky!!!

There was a really nice sized crowd from the time we set up and they even shopped as we tore down our booths for the day. I would have stayed until sundown if they let us. It was a long busy day, but I was having too much fun.

Every type of fine art and craft was represented. That's what I have always loved about this fair. The selection is so diverse. It was well juried and organized. After 41 years, I guess they have it down to a science. And with all this, they still manage to keep it free to attend.

If I were to be guaranteed weather and a crowd like this, I would do an art fair every week!

Fair Diddley 2009- part 3

2009-05-18T09:03:00.001-05:00

Scenes from Fair Diddley 2009

A perfect day! Mid 60's in the morning with no breeze, not a cloud in the sky!

Lucy, an English Mastiff enjoyed a rest while her mommy shopped in our booth. What a whole lot of really awesome dog! There were soooo many dogs at the fair, and everyone of them well behaved and welcome in my booth. The kisses I got from a little cocoa brown nosed terrier were priceless!

The fair encompassed the whole Square, the park, and the side streets. These pictures were taken later in the day and the place was still packed. Around noon, the side streets were shoulder to shoulder. Oh, and did I mention the BLUE SKY?!

The park in the square was just gorgeous with all the trees and lush green grass thanks to all the rain recently.

Fair Diddley 2009- part 2

2009-05-18T08:45:00.002-05:00

Well, all the prep work was well worth the effort.
This is the first time I feel like I was totally organized for a show.
I had everything priced and set up ahead of time in my living room, all ready for an impromptu home show before the fair.

The night before the show, everything was carefully packed into the car, pieced together like an intricate puzzle.
I can't believe what fit into my little Eclipse! Neither could the policeman at the fair when I packed it all back into my car at the end of the day! Hey buddy, I ain't no amature. You should see what I can fit into a suitcase!

Our fair space was so jammed between two others. The green picket fence is part of the display for the booth next to ours. But the fence provided an interesting back drop and the color matched our table runners so we left our tent sidewalls off. And thanks to Larry and Marianne who owned that booth and helped us get our tent up that morning. They no doubt saved Marcella and I from a long drawn out Lucy and Ethel moment!

These were the table set-ups in the early morning. We rearranged a few things after the pictures were taken. We moved "Headless Jane", the mannequin, to the outer edge of the front table and switched the flower hair combs to the back table. It evened out the tables and gave each a little more interesting first impression. I would have liked to have a "Little Brown Bird" sign hanging in the tent, but I didn't have enough time with what I had to deal with last week.

The fair went as well as could be expected with this crappy economy. I am glad, though, that I was able to accept credit cards at this show. It helped tremendously with sales. Thanks to all my Jewelry on Etsy Teammates for their help and suggestions! I did my best in my little part of the world and pimped Etsy and the JET team! Hope it leads to some more traffic.

As I thanked them for their purchases, I reminded people that their support of independent artists means they are directly helping the small businesses that are so greatly effected by this economy. So many commented back that they hadn't thought of it that way and instead of heading out of the fair, they actually turned back to go purchase some things they had seen earlier at other booths! It felt really good to know that some of the other artists were able to benefit from a simple, humble statement.

Pretty Girl

2009-05-09T10:21:00.003-05:00

I would give anything for the sweet scent of PEZ candy,
And the rich, salty aroma of Fritos corn chips.

A handful in size at day one,
A handful of mischief every day thereafter.

My heart, my soul,
Full of love, so empty now.

Love at first sight,
I closed your eyes.

We ran in the park on Thursday afternoon,
Friday night, I held your lifeless body in my arms.

My friend, my protector, my comfort,
Velvet fur, cold, wet nose.

I heard your jingle on the stairs this morning,
But knew it wasn't you, for I'd clutched your tags in my hand all night.

You had a spot on your forehead,
That forever smelled of sweet, sweet PEZ candy.

I joked about your paws,
That had the rich, salty smell of Fritos corn chips.

Oh, what I would give,
To hear your jingle,
To pet your velvet fur,
To touch your cold, wet nose to mine.

Oh, what I would give,
For the scent of PEZ and Fritos.

Zuzu (April 1, 1995 - May 8, 2009)

Goodnight, pretty girl.

Fair Diddley 2009

2009-05-04T09:05:00.006-05:00

Hi! It's me again. I am really excited to announce that I will have a booth at this year's Fair Diddley in Woodstock, Illinois on May 17. Fair Diddley is the largest arts and crafts fair in the area and has been the highlight of the spring fair season for over 30 years.

Attendance grows every year, this year's expected attendance is over 20,000 people! I have been going to Fair Diddley as a shopper since I was a kid, so this is extra special for me this year. I will finally see the fair from the artist's side of the table.

For a preview of many of the items that will be shown at the fair, please visit my original shop on Etsy at Little Brown Bird, or visit my new web site at The Little Brown Bird.

I've been so busy, working hard on making new items especially for the fair...

I have begun making a few handbags. They will make their debut at the fair. This one, above, is a gorgeous pink and gold brocade fabric.

My fun glass pendants, like this one, will also make an appearance.

I have a few new rings to share as well! This one is Cherry Fire Quartz and Sterling Silver.

I have lots of hair pins and combs featuring my beautiful fabric flowers.

My exclusive line of original fine silver offerings will hopefully wow the crowd! This one, above, is called Tropic Wonder, and has the most beautiful colors in the patina. This is a definite must-see! You can get a preview of more fine silver items at my new shop on Etsy, Urban Metal.

I have lots of fun contemporary pieces that are perfect for every day...

...as well as a few with a decided vintage flair.

And I will have some new, funky and fun headbands that I've prepared after receiving some special requests featuring my fabric flowers.

I hope you will be able to join me on May 17th at Fair Diddley. The fair is located on Woodstock's famous square, where the movie Ground Hog's Day with Bill Murray was filmed. My booth is to be located near the corner of Cass Street and Main Street. Can't wait to see you there!!!

Inuaguration Day Thoughts- 2009

2009-01-20T09:50:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to share my thoughts on this morning about the inauguration of President Obama.

I don't want to upset anyone unnecessarily, I've just gotten caught up in all the pomp and circumstance of the morning.

Whatever your political views are, it's undeniable, the magnitude of the day. Millions of people have demonstrated that by going to DC to witness it first hand. And I'm not one of those people who blindly believes the country will change overnight. I do think it's slightly crazy that it seems more like anointing a saint rather than swearing in a new president.

People have such high (and impossible) hopes for this president. I, like many, am holding my breath, waiting for the first real stumble of this administration. It will happen. The test is going to be the recovery, how will he handle it? Can one man inspire a country to come together toward a common goal? He's proven he can ignite a fire, can he control it? Can he repair international relations that have been so horribly damaged? Can he really get done all that he has promised? He would be the first president to do that! Can his administration save the economy of this country, one that affects the economies of so many countries around the world? I hope so.

People voted for Obama, putting so much faith in him. I don't think the heaviness of that has been lost on him. But can he deliver? He will not please everyone, by any means. In fact, he is bound to piss off a lot of people. He will probably dash the hopes of so many that are celebrating for him today. Myself included. We will see.

I don't agree with all of his policies. There will never be a president that I will 100% agree with. There shouldn't be. We should question our leaders. That's where we went wrong in the past. It's something I still don't understand. Why didn't anyone question our past leaders at the time they NEEDED to be questioned? We can only blame ourselves (in general) when that happens.

For now, I see a President that has potential to be one of the greatest US Presidents in history. This coming from me...someone that trusts politicians as much as I trust a pedophile in a day care center. But I have hope. Today, at least, I have hope.

That's all I wanted to say.

Yes! I'm alive!!

2009-01-20T09:43:00.003-06:00

Ha! I didn't realize it's been this long since my last post! Sorry about that, if anyone is actually reading this. It's been a crazy busy holiday season for me. Now that it's over, maybe I can get back to normal.

What have I been doing? Well, for one, I have been working on setting up my own web site for my jewelry, and a few other things. It is an e-commerce site where you will be able to purchase my designs. There will be more (eventually) than what is currently in my Etsy shop. It is currently under construction, so don't expect alot right now. But as time goes on, I will add quite a bit, I have tons of new things that have been piling up!

You can take a sneak peek at it here. TheLittleBrownBird.com
Let me know what you think!

Black Friday/ Cyber Monday

2008-11-28T13:23:00.002-06:00

Well, here we go again! All those great deals out there just waiting to be snatched up. If you're looking for something special this holiday season, for yourself or someone else, check out Little Brown Bird .

10%-30% OFF SELECT ITEMS

FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING

WORLDWIDE

Everything arrives boxed and ready for gift giving!!!

Things I Love: Larimeloom by Lucia Squillari

2008-11-08T07:48:00.009-06:00

I logged onto Etsy this morning to find a dress that peaked my interest, so I clicked. And am I glad I did! Larimeloom is a shop that I highlighted a couple of weeks ago when I put a picture of an awesome plum top into one of my treasuries that ended up on the front page of Etsy. Apparently, others fell in love with this wonderful shop too, because its back for a front page encore.

This shop, featuring designs by Lucia Squillari of Alba, Italy, is pure creativity run wild! Simple designs that, when you break it down, you think..."How did she even think of that?!" In reading her profile, I discovered how organic her designs are. She literally just sits down and starts making it. No plan, no patterns, just pure imagination. Her designs are one of a kind and each one more interesting than the last. Fabrics vary, pieces are designed with simple silhouettes, and everything has a decidedly casual femininity.

One of my favorites is a blouse she calls Cinderella's Gossamer Shirt. It's soft and sheer, and oh so romantic.

Lucia is so very clever, making designs with such versatility. Her haunting photos, taken by her mother, Melissa, and sister, Shanty, display the various ways her clothes can be worn. A sash worn high above the waist gives a dress a romantic evening look, or worn at the waist turns into a casual dress for a day at the market. This grey and black beauty can be worn as a halter top or a skirt!

But my favorite piece in the shop...I'm almost afraid to say because then someone will snatch it up...is this Blue Handwoven Shawl. What can I say? Beautiful.

There are so many gorgeous designs in her shop. Please stop by Larimeloom on Etsy and discover your favorite. And keep your hands off that shawl!

Sale Still Going On!

2008-11-07T07:22:00.002-06:00

There is still time to save on tons of great items from the Jewelry on Etsy Team. Go to Etsy.com and type JHSJETTEAM in the search box at the top to find all kinds of gorgeous jewelry on sale now!

Also, LittleBrownBird is still offering FREE SHIPPING throughout the month of November on everything in the shop. You can save 10%-30% on beautiful jewelry, accessories, and more!

Featured Etsy Artists: November 6, 2008 Treasury

2008-11-07T06:41:00.003-06:00

This week's featured artists are from the treasury collection that I put together on Etsy. These are all fantastic items from some truly creative artists. Take the time to click on the links below to see more.

From left to right starting at the top:

Indie Red and Black Striped Strapless Bubble Dress with Yellow Posh lining by Yellowcake

SMALL AND SEXY SIZE RED- BURGUNDY PLEATED BAG by Daphnenen

Story of O -Size M by JunkhouseDollyard

STEAMED - Steampunk Brass and Copper wire ring with Carnelian bead by CatherinetteRings

Rabbits in Vermilion by Krisblues

Lucky Lil' Devil on Black Women's Tank by decoysofmanhattan

Red and Pine Forest Moon Bun by moonscreations

Personalized Chocolate Damask Holiday Gift Enclosure (set of 8) by becreativestationery

Manfelts Felted Woolen Knitted Slipper Socks Size 11-12 by pawfelts

6 Red Brown Felt Beads by piril

MINIATURE TREE ORNAMENTS-Genuine Beach Stones/Christmas Dangles by SeaMe

Red Planet Ring in Garnet, One of A Kind by onegarnetgirl

Jewelry on Etsy Team Holiday Sale

2008-10-25T21:05:00.004-05:00

It's here! It's that time of year for the annual JET Holiday Sale!

Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET)

Holiday Sale

100's of Jewelry Designers

1000's of items on sale

2 weeks

only 1 palce to find it all!

http://etsy.com/

type JHSJETTEM into the search box

at the top to find outstanding sales on

1000's of jewelry items.

Each shop has its own sale and shop policies so please remember to read the announcement on the shops home page.

You can check the Promotions Forum on Etsy on Oct. 26 for a list of all the participating shops and their sales.

Happy Holidays from JET!

and of course, you can start shopping at

Little Brown Bird !

with additional clearance items at

In The Raw !

Things I Love: Krize (Kristina Sabaite)

2008-10-25T07:10:00.010-05:00

I first "met" Kristina Sabaite when she purchased a few things from my creative supplies shop on Etsy, InTheRaw. She is a children's book illustrator with the most incredible imagination (as I suppose you would have to have if you do illustrations for children's books).

At that time, I don't think there was much, if anything yet, in her shop. Well, I just revisited her Etsy shop, Krize and I am in love with everything in it! Really! Cards and paintings with original (and I mean original) illustrations, adorable fabric brooches, and a tote bag that I found in her "sold items" that is to die for.

All items ship from Spain, so if you're looking for something special this holiday season, don't wait to order. My only problem? It took forever to decide which pictures to use for this story, it's going to be damn near impossible to pick only one or two things to purchase! There's so much more in her shop, please check it out. And check out her other shop, BoogieWoogie where you can find more of her wonderful bags!

Front Page Treasury!

2008-10-24T13:51:00.002-05:00

I did a treasury page for Etsy which included many of my fellow Jewelry on Etsy Team members. Guess what...it made the front page of Etsy! Congrats to all the great artists featured! Check out all the shops!

http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com *Jewelry on Etsy Team Member

http://larimeloom.etsy.com

http://eaddesigns.etsy.com

http://irregularexpressions.etsy.com

http://lavalleygirly.etsy.com *Jewelry on Etsy Team Member

http://jeweledblossoms.etsy.com *Jewelry on Etsy Team Member

http://urbanheirlooms.etsy.com

http://treehouse28.etsy.com

http://emotionaloasis.etsy.com *Jewelry on Etsy Team Member

http://iragrant.etsy.com

http://higherchakrasupply.etsy.com *Jewelry on Etsy Team Member

http://dsbrennan.etsy.com

http://thebrasshussy.etsy.com *Jewelry on Etsy Team Member

And don't forget to check out all the Jewelry on Etsy Team shops for our annual JET Holiday Sale!!!! Search JHSJETTEAM on Etsy for terrific sale items!

A Citizen's Suggestion to the US Presidential Candidtes

2008-10-11T06:57:00.008-05:00

This was originally going to be a response to the comment by "moviefan" left on the last post about the debate. But it quickly turned into something more. Since we are approaching the date of the last debate, and our last chance to hear the candidates' plans (or lack there of) of action, I urge, not the voting public, but the candidates themselves to read on...

I just hope the last debate will actually be a debate. So far, I've heard just a little bit from Obama, but I've not heard a single new idea or plan of action of any kind from McCain. Do the republicans really think that they can campaign the same old way it's been done in the past in this day and age? Talking in circles, selectively focusing on records, exaggerating negatives, and flat out refusing to answer questions then changing the subject? Really??? Do they think we're stupid?! And I'm so sick and tired of hearing what the problems are. We know what the problems are! I want to know what they are going to do about it! Step by step, give me the details!

Yes, campaign promises are usually just pipe dreams. Especially if it's "I'm gonna get this economy back on track!" How? Tell me how you plan on doing it, and everything else you promise. Step 1, step 2, step 3... And if they seem like feasible ideas, then you've got my vote. The one thing I don't want to hear is more of "I voted for x bill but my opponent didn't."

Here's my personal list (other voters have their own) in no particular order, of the things that concern me most for the next President of the United States:

-Fix the economy, without just throwing tax-payers' money at it. Put measures in place to ensure that this doesn't happen again. And no more golden parachutes- if I get fired from my job, I don't get a bonus for it!

-Get the credit crisis under control so people can stop panicking, housing prices can stabalize, and banks can begin lending again.

- Lower the cost of health care (which has seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle lately), and limit patents on drugs so that there can be some competitive pricing out there. No more people having to decide between buying food or prescription drugs!

-Force states to lower property taxes on homes that are no longer worth what they were when we bought them, and do it NOW, not two years from now!

-End the war in Iraq. Just end it.

- Give me solid resources for retirement planning so I don't work my ass off my entire life just to live my last days scraping by. (Don't even get me started on social security.) And crack down on those abusing the system, sucking up all public resources, leaving nothing for those that truly need it!

- Back off my right to choose! You don't know me, you don't know my beliefs, you don't know my personal situation, you don't know my health, and you certainly don't know the decision I would make, but the decision is MINE!

-Make education a priority in this country! Shouldn't it be a wake-up call that the leader of this country for the past 8 years thinks he's "the decider"? And his wife was a teacher! It's frightening to think that people so high up in office do not even have the ability to communicate. Without education, how can we expect to compete (or even compare) globally?
(and, while we're on the subject of communication, education, and global competitiveness...)

-Make education of world history and cultures a priority. The world has become so much smaller, as we have witnessed with the current global economic shake-up. We (speaking globally) are so closely connected, yet are so horribly ignorant of the world outside of our own individual bubbles. The root of every war is firmly planted in ignorance and fear. Americans, in my opinion, have become so much less tolerant of other cultures. (That really is shocking since the foundation of this country is, and always has been, built on the backs of immigrants in search of something better.) We have been programmed to think that the US is the best country in the world and that "our way" is the only way. The truth is, most people in this country have never even set foot outside of it (spring break in Cancun doesn't count), and have never experienced the rest of the world. It sounds cliche, but we really don't realize how lucky we are in this country. But there is so much to be learned from the world outside. And from that knowledge, we can begin to understand why some cultures hate Americans so much. And here's a novel thought, we might even begin to bridge the gap and discover shared ideologies. <-- If that word was too big for you, I rest my case.

I have many other concerns for the next administration. In fact, it seems to be a never-ending list, as it should be. But if the candidates can tell me what they are going to do about the issues above, that would be a good start for me.

----------------------------------------------------
The views expressed here are my own. I realize and respect the fact that others may not share these views. This is meant to be a launching point for discussion.

Presidential Debate(?) #2

2008-10-08T22:23:00.004-05:00

Here we go again...
Misleading statements, exaggerations, lies, you name it...oh ya, and name calling (almost forgot that one). It was a lively debate. Oh, did I say debate? Hmm, most debates I've ever seen have two people stating facts to back up their arguments. There were indeed facts, and some of them were actually left in proper context (I was surprised) but there were many more "facts" that were twisted. I won't pass judgement here, for I believe everyone has the right to decide for themselves who should be the next US President. I've been trying to keep a very open mind until the polls officially open, but it's getting harder every day. Especially since I heard only one candidate actually answer the questions from last nights debate. The other one, to me at least, came off as a very bitter little man, "my friends". It was extremely frustrating! I really want to have a hard time deciding who to vote for because there are two highly qualified, "get-it done" type of candidates. But once again, it looks as though we are left to decide the lesser of two evils (perhaps evil is too harsh, but we'll see). I know one candidate that, if he doesn't get elected President, should at least get the most votes on "Dancing with the Stars" for dancing around the subject!

Again, I urge you to get the facts. Please log on to FactCheck.org and see for yourself.

Little Red, White, & Blue Lies

2008-10-03T14:02:00.003-05:00

So, we've had debates now from both the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, with more to come. If you watched the debate last night, you probably felt like you were doing your patriotic duty by getting informed. If you haven't made up your mind which candidate to vote for yet, you feel you have a pretty good grasp on the subject to lean one way or the other. And if you are a "Die-Hard" Republican or Democrat, there's not much that can sway you anyway. Or is there? Because after one debate, each, by the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, I'm convinced that there are nothing but "Liberals" in this race, for they have all been awfully liberal with the truth. (Click here to watch last nights debate again, point by point.)

But little white lies never hurt anyone, right? I'm not so sure about that. Maybe if it comes from a 6 year old who's afraid of getting reprimanded for trying to flush his sister's Barbie down the toilet. But how about when it's a candidate running for the highest office in the land? I mean, politics is politics and mud-slinging is a given during election time, but shouldn't we hold our leaders to a higher standard? *I can sense you rolling your eyes.* I know, so what's new, right?

Well, if you want to truly do your patriotic duty next month *ya, I said next month* I suggest you get the facts straight. Sound bites on campaign commercials and not-so-objective commentaries from news anchors may be entertaining, but they don't really give you the full picture. In the coming weeks leading up to the election, do yourself, and your country, a favor. Get the facts. Click onto FactCheck.org to find out who's telling the truth, who's not, and who's offering a slightly skewed sense of the facts.

Things I Love: Fashion by Stella McCartney

2008-10-03T08:01:00.005-05:00

This is the first in a new series that I'm doing, "Things I Love". So many times, while flipping through magazines or surfing on line, I find things that I just love and would love to share. So I will be doing a regular feature on my blog to share things that I feel deserve a hearty "shout-out".

First up, Stella McCartney. Fashion week in France is winding up and one of the stand-outs, for me at least, is Stella McCartney.

I just love this dress from Stella McCartney's Summer 2009 Collection!

This Brass Bag with hot pink lining is TOO CUTE!

One thing I love about Stella McCartney's fashions is that although she has some of the typical "way out there, who the hell would really wear that" stuff that so many designers do, she does have a real-world sense of what the every-day woman is looking for. These are some of my favorites from her active wear collections with Adidas.

Fortanima Boots

Hooded Polar Fleece

Studio Skirt Pants

I love these Studio Skirt Pants! That's a woman designing for women- a little built-in skirt to hide what you want to hide and still look uber-cute!

You can see the rest of Stella McCartney's collections at her beautiful web site.

For the Love of Copper

2008-09-25T09:22:00.007-05:00

You probably have noticed by now that my blog has a slightly new look. I've been working behind the scenes to revamp Little Brown Bird and become a little more organized **cough, cough, choking** My shop will hopefully have a new look, and this blog needs alot of help!

I'm working on some really cool (well, I think so) new jewelry pieces. Lately I've been playing with different metals and firing up my power tools! I've also been pounding out some frustrations, developing my skills with hammered textures.

I am in love with copper right now! The cutting and shaping, you can do just about anything to it! And I've been experimenting with patinas, giving the metal an aged or weathered look, and adding depth to the colors and textures. You can see what I mean.

There's much more to come! There are days when I get into the zone and work non-stop on new designs. I love those days. But I have to fit them in between life's necessary chores. So enjoy the new pictures, and as always, you can contact me for more information or to reserve an item. They will be listed in my shop soon. Unfortunately, my creative time for today is over already, right now I have to go grocery shopping.

Etsy Down Again!

2008-09-15T18:17:00.003-05:00

Ok, I have no idea what happened this time but for several days, if not weeks, Etsy has been running slow. The search function has been a mess with listings not showing up in the correct categories, or sometimes not showing up at all.

Now, Etsy has mysteriously disappeared! It happened about a half hour ago and as of yet, I can find no information as to what happened. My guess is the server finally crashed. Whatever it is. I hope it won't be for long! To stay on top of it, you may want to check out Unofficial Etsy News
to find out the latest.

******************
An hour later, Etsy is back up and running. No word still on what went wrong.

Pesto Planning!

2008-09-05T07:01:00.004-05:00

I wanted to give an update on my summer herb garden experiment. If you remember, I decided to start growing my own fresh herbs because the price fresh herbs in the grocery stores has become outrageous! I would love to have a whole vegetable garden, but I just don't have the space. In my tiny home, growing a few fresh herbs is about all I can do. And how did that idea pan out? Well, with my "brown thumbs", I didn't expect to have steller results. But surprisingly, I do have two very healthy herb plants!

Ok, you're thinking, "but Mary, I thought you planted 8 different herbs." Ya, I did...like I said, I have TWO very healthy herb plants.

I began my herb garden by using the method that I learned in 4th grade. I spread my seeds out on a paper towel and added water. Within days, I had tiny basil sprouts peeking out at me. The other herbs (mint, sage, lavender, cilantro, dill, terragon, rosemary) began to sprout as well.

By the time it was ready to transfer the sprouts to a pot with dirt, I think I was down to about 5 herbs. Some took off immediately, others withered away after a week or so. Still not bad for someone like me. The sprouts you see here are basil.

The basil seems to be doing the best! I'm so glad, because I use basil more than anything. The other plant that has taken off is mint. For most of the summer, I have been enjoying alot of recipes with fresh mint and basil. In fact, the plants have done so well, that I have begun drying some of the basil and I could actually split the plants to give some away. Who knows what the fall and winter months may bring. I'm sure they won't last with little sun and being near a cold window. So I am making plans to make a fantastic pesto should my basil plant begin to look, well, not so lushy. For now though, The basil is "a plenty" and the $.99 packet of seeds has saved me about $12 a week! I figure, given the amount of fresh basil that I usually go through, it has saved me about $90 this summer. Not a bad return on my tiny investment! Now, if my stocks were so lucky...

Tomato Hugger

2008-07-22T18:21:00.004-05:00

Ok, I'm really excited about this. I finally submitted a recipe to Tastespotting after all this time. Tomato Basil and Goat Cheese Pizza. It's a yummy recipe that includes toasted pine nuts in the doughy goodness. And after hearing heartbreaking stories about tomato farmers losing their homes and plowing under their fields because of the recent salmonella scare, I decided to do my part in helping the mom and pop farmer recover from what many people are calling a government-created disaster. (Ya, add that to the list...)

My hope was that the article would reach a great number of people and challenge those who are culinary inclined to share their fresh tomato-based recipes and in doing so, hopefully, encourage people to start buying tomatoes again. Truth is, the FDA actually has never even found the type of salmonella bactirium that sickened so many in the thousands of tests done on tomatoes, cilantro, and jalepenos.

You can read the article and recipe on my food blog via the link above, and join the challenge! Create a fresh-tomato recipe and put a link to it in the comment section of my blog post, Save an industry- eat tomatoes! to share it with everyone. Or post your recipe on Tastespotting and tag it, "Tomato Challenge".

Furniture Buying 101

2008-07-17T10:15:00.007-05:00

For those of you who maybe haven't read my profile, I am not only a jewelry designer extraodinaire, *wink* but I am an Interior Design Consultant as well. Recently, I received an email from a friend who is going to purchase a new sofa. It seems she has had some trouble in the past and would like to know a few inside tips before spending hard-earned cash on a high-ticket item. I certainly don't balme her!

For most, buying furniture can be a mind numbing experience anyway. Especially if you want to do anything custom. (Oooooh, there's that really expensive word, "custom". More on that in a bit.) The choice of fabrics and leathers, styles, colors...do you want it to recline, swivel, get up an get you a drink? Endless! It's enough to drive most people insane. And at the end of it, we forget why we needed furniture in the first place...because the last sofa broke.

Here is where that email question comes in. My friend (name changed to protect privacy) Susie said that she has had a sectional sofa from (name changed so I don't get sued) ABC Furniture Co. and has had it for only 3 years. The cushions are literally coming apart at the seams, as if there was not enough fabric allowed for a proper seam. She has never liked the way it sat, firm in one area, soft in another, different sections were higher than others, etc. When she bought it, she was told by the sales person that "it would last forever." (Hmmm, more on that later too.) Susie wanted to get some advice before plunking down another $3000 on something new, and praying the same thing doesn't happen again. As I started writing my reply, I realized how many times I have (happily) given the same advice to various friends as well as my own clients. It occured to me that most people are truly confused when it comes to knowing what furniture is "good" and what is not. What makes one sofa $300 and another one $3000? They look the same.

For full disclosure, I have to say that I do sell ABC Furniture brand, as well as other brands, so I know the company quite well. And I did not sell Susie her sofa, nor did she purchase it at my store. But I can say that ABC's frames and "spring" system are well known for being extremely strong and longer lasting than many other brands. But that's just the frame part if it, fabrics and other parts that are supplied to the furniture manufacturer are a different story. The key is how that manufacturer intends to rectify a problem.

So now, a few thoughts on Susie's current sectional sofa. Of course, without seeing her sofa first hand, I'm only guessing, but...

-First, the frame and workmanship (stitching, etc) should have a lifetime warranty through it's manufacturer, ABC Furniture Co. A lifetime warranty, which is not always offered with every manufacturer, means that it is covered for as long as you own that piece, in its original fabric or leather. If you have your sofa reupholstered, it will void all warranties.

-Fabric is always a one year warranty against defects (that's defects from the fabric mill, not ABC Furniture Co.), this is industry standard no matter where you buy your furniture. Some retail stores offer an extended warranty (through a company not related to the manufacturer)on fabric protection for an extra price that will cover rips, stains, cigarette burns, etc. for 3 or 5 years.

-The store where Susie bought it should be able to work with the factory on her behalf to have the sectional repaired (if she wishes).

-It's unlikely that the fabric on the cushions was cut wrong since, as with most large furniture factories like ABC, it is an automated cutting system run by a computer, unless you happened to get the end of the bolt and the fabric had run out(entirely possible, still unlikely). But sometimes it does happen where fabric is accidently sewn by a worker slightly off center leaving little room at the other edge for the seam. When the piece goes through a final inspection, it's easy to miss. But this is part of the workmanship warranty from ABC and is covered for repair.

-Not sure why each piece of the sectional is a different height. I would need to see it to come up with a reason. It sounds like Susie just wants to replace it anyway, but I want to help her try and avoid problems. My questions to her would be whether or not she has a sleeper or recliners in one side but not on the other? That could explain the height difference because of the mechanisms in those kinds of pieces. It could also explain the difference in firmness, since sleepers and recliners will usually be firmer than a regular piece. There is no way to get a non-reclining or non-sleeper piece that feels the same as one with either of those machinisms in it.

After having a little insight on what may have gone wrong with her present sectional sofa, I'd like Susie, and others to arm themselves with a bit of knowledge on how furniture is constructed and how to spot the problems you may have before you make that purchase.

THE REAL (UGLY) TRUTH ABOUT FURNITURE /
FINDING A QUALITY PIECE OF FURNITURE 101:

- Give up the notion that there exists a perfect sofa, chair, table, bedroom, or whatever, that has never had, or will ever have any problems. Like Prince Charming, this is just a fairy tale . Things come in from the factories all the time with dings and scratches, and other goofy stuff that you wouldn't believe. Most stores have to do little touch-ups here or there on brand new pieces right out of the box. It doesn't mean it's not a quality piece, it's just reality. Even the highest end furniture companies have to deal with this. Just because piece of furniture is really expensive doesn't make it magic. Its still put together by humans and we all have our bad days.

- Look for a strong frame. Solid wood frames are great if they are made of maple or even poplar. Solid pine, not so much. Other strong frames are those made with plywood (plywood does not mean particle board) Plywood is made from sheets of wood layered with the grain on each layer going in an alternating direction. Since wood expands with moisture, alternating the direction of the grain limits this expansion, which limits warping and cracking. Sometimes this type of material is also called engineered wood. It has been specifically engineered to withstand the stress of everyday use in a particular type of product. Wood that has been engineered for use in a sofa may be different than wood engineered for use in a table or desk.

- Some wood names given as the type used for a particular piece of furniture are not what you expect they are. This is usefull information for most casegoods (wood furniture like tables, bedrooms, dining rooms). An example of this is a particular furniture collection that I have sold many times which is made of "select hardwood solids with Santos Rosewood veneers". Santos Rosewood is not actually a true rosewood, but mimics the look of Brazilian Rosewood (also known as Rio Rosewood), an endangered species of actual rosewood. Santos Rosewood is a beautiful alternative to the endagered Brazillian (Rio) Rosewood, however, it has different properties. It’s best to Google the complete name given to the wood type used. You will find countless sites that show the hardness scale, moisture resistance, etc. Often these properties are compared against typical American Oak, which most people are very familiar with. (By the way, American Oak is not the hardest wood like most people tend to believe, but hard enough to withstand a great deal of stress.)

- Look for upholstered furniture with the term “8-way hand tied”. This refers to a coiled spring construction. The springs are individually tied by hand to each other using a very strong twine and then tied directly to the wood frame by wrapping the twine around nails and then knotted. The nail is then pounded into place, securing the twine. This type of construction has been the ideal standard for centuries. A less preferred type of this construction is a “drop-in unit” in which the coiled springs are clamped together using metal clips. The drop-in unit is then set into the wood frame and clamped into place. The clips have a tendency to slip and break loose over time and the springs will become loose, or the entire unit may rock back and forth. A lesser preferred construction will have a zigger, or zig-zag shaped spring in the base of the sofa. This is the same type of spring used in most sofa backs. While it is pretty much the standard for the back of the sofa, this type is considerably less strong than a coiled spring and will almost certainly sag with heavy use. It is usually found in more contemporary or trendy looking upholstery that people tend to change after just a few years. Farther down on the quality totem pole is upholstered furniture that uses nylon webbing instead of metal springs. Just think how many lawn chairs you have thrown out over the years, ‘nuff said. Nylon webbing is still acceptable in most occassional chairs and dining chairs.

- Try lifting one end of the sofa at the corner 6 inches off the floor. If only the one corner that you are holding lifts off the floor, the frame is too loose. If both legs at that end of the sofa lift, the frame is probably well enough constructed, but ask what type of wood was used to construct the frame, then ask about the springs, and so on.

- Listen for squeaks and other noises as a sign of a loose frame or a faulty swivel or rocking/reclining mechanism.

-The foam in all seat cushions will break-in over time but should not break down and fall apart. A firmer cushion does not always mean it will last longer than a soft cushion. Look for manufacturers that include the seat cushions in the warranty. Note: not all types of cushions by one manufacturer will be covered in the warranty, usually just the standard cushion for that style frame. Down and down-blend cushions will almost always have a frumpy look over time.

-It is preferable to have seat cushions that are less than 30” wide each. Larger seat cushions will show a wrinkled look after someone has been sitting on it. This will be evident from the very first time you sit on the sofa. It's not a defect, just comon sense and the nature of a soft product. Larger cushions also have slightly less support and may sag with heavy use. If you want cushions (seat and back) that do not change their shape what-so-ever after someone has been sitting on or against them, I suggest concrete. And yes, your back cushions WILL mush down if you let Fido sit on the very top of them.

- Whether or not the back cushions are attached to the sofa or loose should not affect the quality. Loose cushions have the advantage of being turned or rotated, while attached cushions tend to stay straight and more tailored. It’s your choice. Keep in mind the maintenance required to preserve the look that you want for that piece and whether or not you are willing to do it!

- The word "laminated" need not be feared. Most people think of lamination as a thin sheet of imitation wood glued on top of particle board. Lamination actually refers to the process in which two or more layers (of anything) are glued together (to anything else). Remember what we learned about plywood frames in upholstered furniture? The same is true of the word "veneer". A veneer is the "thin layer" that is laminated to the top or outside edge of a piece of furniture. Most fine casegoods (wood) furniture has a veneer of a nicer looking wood laminated over either an uglier piece of the same type of wood, or over another type of wood in order take advantage of certain properties. You may often see "maple solids with maple veneers" or "cherry solids with fancy-faced mahogany veneers". A fancy-faced veneer is one in which the different grains or grain directions of the wood have been manipulated to achieve a particular look, such as a diamond pattern in the veneer.

-For upholstery, press down on the arm. If you feel it give or hear a pop, the arm has been most likely constructed using cardboard (yes, cardboard) to form the shape. This is obviously not as strong as an all wood construction and may give way under the pressure of someone sitting on the arm. If you press down on the arm and you immediately feel wood, there is not enough padding between the outer fabric and the wood frame. Friction will cause the fabric to tear from
the inside-out.

These are all things to consider when trying to determine quality from "crap". Although, "crap" does have it's place. Consider purchasing something of lesser quality to send with your kids to their college apartment. Or better yet, buy yourself something of better quality for the room you use the most in your own house and ship that old sofa off to college. It will probably last until graduation and your graduate might even make a buck selling it to some other under-grad. (Be sure and hit him up for a portion of the profit!)

Most of all, make sure the furniture you buy performs the function that you require for where it's going. If it's for the living room that no ever goes into except on Christmas and Easter, consider buying something that looks nice, but is not as good a quality on the inside as what you would need for the family room that gets used everyday. Don't skimp to save cash on something that you know will get heavy use. Family room, kitchen, and kids' furniture take the hardest beating. Put your hard-earned cash there. There is one exception that you may want to make for a formal dining room. Although it may not get as heavy use, a formal dining room is meant to impress. Sometimes, because of hand-carved elements and more luxurious fabrics, dining room furniture can get costly. If that's the look you want, you may not get it in a set that's cosiderably less expensive. Is it necessary? Maybe not. But how many times do you plan on purchasing a dining set? Sometimes you have to look down the road a bit.

I know I have covered alot. Actually, there is much, much more that I could go over for you. But having some information before you get to that furniture store will arm you with enough to keep you from being intimidated right out the door. You have a more than decent base knowledge that you will be able to ask questions and actually understand the answers. No more glazed expression on your face when the salesperson says "eight-way hand tied" (go back and read it again above), no more negative thoughts when you hear "veneer".

And by all means, if you don't understand something or can't find what you are looking for, don't be afraid to ask for help! The salesperson is your brother(or sister)-in-arms in your battle against home decorating. Most have an education in Interior Design and will happily guide you through choosing patterns, colors, and finding pieces that fit your specific needs. Helping you furnish your home and giving you guidance in the process (with as little stress and headaches as possible) is exactly what they were hired to do! Most of these people also work soley on commission. Keep this in mind if you leave and return to the store another day. It's proper and to your advantage to ask for the person that you began working with (unless you were unhappy with them) when you return. They will be up to date on what you are working on and can pick up right where you left off. They may have even come up with additional ideas for you in the mean time. Keep in mind also, that while you are welcome to negotiate for a better price, this is the person that has just helped you navigate the Bermuda Triangle. Often times, any discount (any at all, or after a certain point) that they may give you comes directly out of their own paycheck.

Many stores will offer the option to have one of their designers come out to your home. Although some stores say this service is free, it is usually for a fee that then becomes part of your deposit if you should finalize your purchase (free with a purchase). This is pretty standard in most better furniture stores. If you know you will probably purchase something from that store, it may be to your advantage to pay the up-front fee and have a designer come out. Some people balk at the idea of having to pay this fee, but the designer's time is not free. The fee up front insures the designer that they will be paid for their time away from the showroom and paid for their expert advice (you don't know any lawyers or doctors that give free advice, do you?), and when you make your purchase, you will be credited that amount.

Throughout this article, you probably came up with additional questions related to your own project. I would be happy to answer anything I can, just post your question in the comments section and I'll post an answer as soon as I can. I would like to get a list of some furniture manufacturers that I think have quality furniture at good price points. I've run out of time for today, but I'll try to do that soon.

Real Lives Behind Real Art: Beautiful handmade greeting cards from Beautiful Greetings

2008-07-10T07:27:00.010-05:00

I love buying handmade. There's something special about purchasing a piece of jewelry, a hat, handbag, painting, or really anything that has been lovingly created by the artist her/himself. As an artist, I know the proud feeling of packaging up a personally handmade (now newly purchased) creation to send off to its new home.

Just sold at Little Brown Bird. (Bamboo Print Earrings with Copper Dragonflies.)

I imagine the recipient waiting anxiously for the package to arrive and smiling from ear to ear as they open it, then rushing to show all their friends, family, and co-workers the wonderful "find" they made of a unique, one of a kind piece of jewelry, screaming with glee about all the pretty things they found at Little Brown Bird, children singing, marching bands playing, parades, white doves released into the air... Ok, so I have an over-active imagination.

Better than my self-pat-on-the-back dream. I imagine that person then clicking over to another Etsy shop, Beautiful Greetings , to purchase a gorgeous handmade card to go with it. Maybe it's meant to be a birthday present, a thank you to someone special, or one of those great "just because" gifts that we all love getting from a friend or loved one. What ever the occasion, Beautiful Greetings, the Etsy shop of Peggy Russel, has the perfect card for you!

Peggy creates the most wonderful greeting cards and gift tags for any occasion. She uses gorgeous quality card stock and hand stamps images, glitter, ribbon, and other embellishments making each card truly a work of art. And I love her use of color! Her incredible sense of design shows in every card. This purple and yellow combo above is one of my favorites...and not just because I'm a coffeeholic!

Her gift tags are thoughtfully created as well, using lovely embossed papers and flowers embellished with dazzling brads. Each tag is as special as the gift with which they are given. These tags above are terrific for wedding or baby shower gifts! My favorite is the one at the top with the happy little green flower.

Peggy also has a really cute card for a belated birthday(so if anyone forgot to send me a card last week, now is your chance)...ehem.

The endless array of special occasions combined with a boundless imagination makes Beautiful Greetings a great destination for all your card giving needs. Stock up on her "Choose your own" set of four cards. Or grab a set of 3 mini cards to have on hand for last minute gifts. (Didn't your husband just get a last minute dinner invite from his boss? He really should bring a little something along with one of Peggy's gift tags attached.)

It's the thought that counts! And nothing looks more thoughtful than a handmade gift and gift card. Please check out both Little Brown Bird and Beautiful Greetings today!

A note about buying handmade:

Buying handmade artwork of any kind is special. Not just because you may have the only piece like it in existence, but because your money goes directly to the artist. The purchase you make directly impacts the life of that artist, or even her/his family. Many independent artists rely solely on the income they gain from selling their work. I am very conscious of this, especially in the current U.S. economic environment. The financial benefit an artist receives by selling their work directly to the buyer is indispensable. Your purchase allows them to continue their passion while providing you with exciting and creative original works of art.

*Your purchase from Peggy's shop helps to support her three young children while pursuing a teaching degree in Elementary Education.

**Your purchase from Little Brown Bird goes directly into my gas-guzzling car, feeds an incredibly precocious, yet much appreciated, extremely alert and protective miniature pinscher guard dog(thanks Zuzu), and helps to sustain my personal addiction to pretty things! Whatever is left is set aside for retirement because, who are we kidding, social security is a joke.

TasteSpotting- It's Back!!!!!!

2008-06-28T07:54:00.003-05:00

Wake up, wake up, wake up!!! All of you foodies who have had no reason toget out of bed in the morning...all you culinary addicts scrounging for a fix...all desperate food porn seekers flipping the tv remote to watch nothing but the food commercials... turn off the gas and get your heads out of your ovens. Today is a new day and life is good! Make that, LIFE IS DELICIOUS!

What a great way to wake up in the morning! To flip open the notebook and log onto my blog, and on a whim (and out of habit) click onto the link for TasteSpotting just to see what would happen. I couldn't believe my eyes!

TasteSpotting has returned! The delectable web site has found a new home and has picked up right where it left off. I can't wait to jump back in and roll around in that yummy goodness! In the past week, TasteSpotting has had something cooking. Another note on the cyber-fridge, the sound of pots and pans clanking behind the computer screen...hmm, I wondered why I smelled paprika coming from my hard drive.

The absence of Tastespotting since friday the 13th of June has been upsetting, to say the least. But if there was one savory thing to come from it, it would be the emergence of FoodGawker. Thanks to Chuck at SundayNightDinner, epicurians everywhere have had a safe haven to weather out the storm. FoodGawker has had a great start and seems to be taking off. I hope it stays around. Like digging a fork into a rich, gooey double chocolate cake (the breakfast of champions), FoodGawker and TasteSpotting together is double the fun. What could possibly be wrong with that?!

Grab a Bloody Mary to nurse those hangovers. It's time to get cooking!

What do my blog and my kitchen cabinets have in common?

2008-06-19T19:06:00.005-05:00

They are both too freaking small! It seems that I have created a little more tasty goodness than I know what to do with. If you haven't noticed, the yummy postings about cupcakes and kimchi have started taking over my blog. I have created another blog site for food and "whine" at All Up In My Kitchen.

I have already transferred some of my latest food posts to the new blog. I will have links to all my favorite culinary websites, recipes, tips, and progress on my herb garden (which I have just transferred to pots this morning!) I'm also thinking of doing something like the wine of the month, or maybe cookie, or cupcake...I'm not quite sure yet. But there will definately be lots of fun articles because if you ever saw me in the kitchen, you'd laugh your ass off!

New ideas are always coming. As the blog develops it will have more clearly defined sections. I'm sorting through all my favorite links and recipes now. Maybe I should also include work-out tips, since I have a feeling, this is going to be a fattening undertaking!

Food Gawker-A New Tasty Treat!

2008-06-15T13:57:00.003-05:00

After a sad day of learning about the end of Tastespotting.com, A shining beacon of hope has come to the rescue. The cyber-refrigerator door has opened and the little light has come on to reveal a new site hoping to pick up where Tastespotting left off.

FoodGawker.com has taken the reigns to lead lovers of "food porn" to the promised land. Bloggers are already posting and it seems to be off to a great start. I for one will be checking it out as soon as I'm done writing this post.

I hear there are other sites starting to pop up hoping to create something as wonderful as Tastespotting. I will hunt them down and add links to my column on the left as I find them.

Food is one of the essentials of life, and so too is food blogging! Thank you Chuck from Sunday Night Dinner for getting Food Gawker up and running so quickly. You don't know how many meals you have saved!

No Tastespotting! I'm sad, cold, alone...and hungry!!!

2008-06-14T11:20:00.010-05:00

Just when I thought I had finally gotten through a Friday the 13th unscathed, I was slammed in the face with a Post-it note.

Where, oh where has my tastespotting.com gone?!

To quote one of my favorite shows, "Sex and the City"..."He broke up with you in a Post-It note?!"

As you can see from the note left on the cyber-refrigerator that used to be Tastespotting.com, the web site beloved by foodies all over the world is no more. It's heart-breaking. I feel like I have just lost my best friend. I have been punched in my empty, grumbling stomach.

For those of you not fortunate enough to have "relished" (sorry, had to do it) this web site before, Tastespotting was kind of like an on-line recipe box of sorts. Bloggers worldwide posted their best recipes, advice on food and wine, and other food related articles. Pages and pages (somewhere around 350 pages on 6-12-08) of yummy thumbnail pictures were linked to blogs containing each recipe or article, and even better, from there, hundreds, if not thousands of other recipes. The trail of food related blogs was endless. Pure heaven for anyone who enjoys cooking(or eating!). It was a gateway to thousands of educational sources that could have rivaled any culinary academy.

I had found this web site about a year ago and have enjoyed and been inspired by many of the recipes and articles that were posted. I have a link in the left column on this blog to Tastespotting in order to share what was a wonderful source of culinary inspiration. I had even been hoping to one day post some of my own recipes.

So far, I have not found the true reason for the end of Tastespotting.com. And I refuse to believe it is really gone forever. Whatever the legal complications are, I'm hoping it can be sorted out and Tastespotting will one day return. My guess, and it's only a guess, is that there may have been some kind of copyright issue involved. Although most of the recipes and articles were original and posted by the authors themselves, I do remember seeing a few blog posts that spoke about and contained pictures from published works. This may be the sticking point. If so, it may be possible to just remove those posts and keep a tighter control on future posts to make sure they are in compliance with current copyright laws.

Whatever the issue, I do hope to see Tastespotting.com return soon! I will leave the link on my blog just in case. *fingers crossed*

I am not alone in my misery. Foodies everywhere are left confused and yearning. For further thoughts on the disappearance of Tastespotting.com, check out the comments on Chowhound.com . If anyone can shed some light on this, feel free to leave a comment here as well.

Lil' baby herbs...koochie koo!

2008-06-11T17:42:00.003-05:00

So far my little 4th grade science experiment seems to be working. Just a few days after beginning my herb garden, little sprouts have begun to form!

The basil seeds are sprouting. Mmmmm, I can taste the pesto already!

This tarragon will go marvelously with a nice juicy steak...in about a month or so.

I'm so excited. The other seeds have not sprouted yet but a few of them look almost ready. I think the coriander will be the next to start showing signs of life and it will be on its way to becoming cilantro. Ooh, I have so many recipes that call for cilantro, it bugs me that I still have to buy it while I wait. Patience, patience...

My obsession!!!!

2008-06-09T15:21:00.009-05:00

I finally did it! After months of working out and watching every tiny calorie to get in shape for summer, I have finally given in to the one nagging craving that has haunted me through every weigh-in. I have endured countless disgusted looks from restaurant servers when I asked if the chef could make my plain chicken breast and steamed broccoli without oil or butter. I have suffered endless bruises from falling off my excercise "Bean" while doing crunches. I have knocked the lamp off the bedroom dresser and kicked the dog (sorry, Zuzu) twice while Tae-bo'ing. And it has paid off, having lost nearly 40lbs. since September. Back to my fighting weight of 121lbs., all I have to do is wait for summer to get here.

Of course, here in the midwest, the unofficial start to summer happened on Memorial Day. When WAS that again? Mother nature seems to have forgotten the traditional start to the sun, fun, and beach season. Well, WTF?! I busted my @$$ for rain every freakin' day? Tornado warnings, flash floods, hail! Ya, I said HAIL! You know, that stuff that is actually chunks of ICE falling from the sky! In JUNE!

That does it. No more Ms. Nice Girl. I promised my self that when I reached my goal weight and summer arrived, I was going to give in to my obsession. I have been craving a Red Velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing. Just a cupcake. Not a big deal. What harm could that be?

The Mega Cupcake! Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Monster Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing!

Mmmmmmm, yummy goodness. What? If I'm going to have to wait for Mother Nature to get her act together, I might as well take full advantage of the situation. (For size reference: The dish used in the photo is my grandmother's fine china serving charger.)

In the kitchen with Mary...

2008-06-08T08:19:00.006-05:00

I have decided to go ahead with making my cookbook. Everytime I cook something really yummy I think, "Why don't I write this down and take a picture of it?" I have so many ideas for recipes. Making a cook book might give me the reason to go ahead and test some new things. And I'll be photographing the ones that turn out "pretty" so I can remember what they are supposed to look like because I just hate cook books without pictures! I never know if I've made it right or how it should be plated.

mmm...doesn't it just make you drool?

This first recipe that is going into the book is a smoked turkey sausage served with spaghetti squash, into which, I mixed 3 different cheeses. I cleverly named it...wait for the drum-roll...

Smoked Turkey Sausage with 3-Cheese Spaghetti Squash

I know, shocking! I'm so creative sometimes. I'd like to think I use so much of my creativity in my cooking that there's nothing left for the name. (wink) Whatever, I'm just a dork.

Oh ya, I'm not a vegan!

I will be refining the recipe a little before I set the final version in stone. I used red onion, which I usually don't cook because I prefer the bite of it when it's raw. But I had a little red onion left over in the fridge that I wanted to use before it went bad (naughty onion) so I mixed it with a little spanish onion, also a left-over. I really want the sausage to stand out though so I think I might try this with shallots next time. According to Mario (Iron Chef Mario Batali), shallots have a more subtle flavor. I don't remember a specific time that I have cooked with shallots before but I'm sure I have. And I like the slight pinkish color of shallots too. I want this dish to be colorful. I thought of adding roasted red pepper or sundried tomatoes to the mix but I thought the flavors would get too much in the way of the sausage, and certainly the spaghetti squash, for this one.

Spaghetti squash has such a lightness about it that it is easily overwhelmed by other stronger flavors. For that reason, I am also going to cut down on the amount of cheese. Oh, there will still be three cheeses, just not as much. I didn't use much cheese to begin with. But I also want to make this a healthy dish. I chose cheeses that pack a lot of flavor in them so I don't have to use so much to get the point across. You're dying to know what they are, aren't you? Fine, whatever. I used a little fresh goat cheese to create a nice creamy sauce. I also love, love, love asiago so I had to throw that in there. The last one was one that I haven't cooked with before. I found that aged provolone, which I don't like in my favorite tomato and provalone sandwhich (I prefer the lighter taste of regular provalone for that), is quite nice when melted. The aged provalone has a good bite to it like parmesan but...different. The asiago and aged provalone do get a little oily (which doesn't really jive with the whole "healthy" thing) when melted but I think that problem will be solved once I reduce the amounts used.

Isn't it pretty?

The result of this first try was incredibly "nummers"! The kitchen smelled sooooo good and it looked good enough to, well, eat. Don't laugh, you haven't heard about all my culinary disasters. That's going to be a whole other book. And my neighbors must think I'm crazy, out on the patio taking "beauty shots" of my food before I eat it! Whatever, it's my world, everyone else is just scenery. LOL!

Spice cabinet woes!

2008-06-08T08:15:00.003-05:00

Spice cabinet woes!
Originally uploaded by littlebrownbird

A close up of the scene of the crime! I spend most of my "cooking" time looking for the spice or dried herb that I need. And when I open the cabinet, tiny bottles go flying into my sauce pans! I don't exactly have a user-friendly kitchen.

My tiny spice cabinet.

2008-06-08T08:11:00.002-05:00

My tiny spice cabinet.
Originally uploaded by littlebrownbird

I'm hoping to figure out a way to organize this mess. I have the tiniest kitchen and only this tiny cabinet to store all my spices. As you can see, I use A LOT of spices when I cook. Very few of these go unused.

My New Herb Garden

2008-06-04T09:31:00.001-05:00

I love cooking with fresh herbs. But I hate buying them at the grocery store. I mean, are they kidding charging $3.89 for a tiny package of fresh basil?! Yowza! Times are tough. $3.89 is ALMOST a gallon of gas these days. (And don't get me started on that!) So, it's time to cut back somewhere.

I will be planting my own herb garden in a couple of big pots on my patio since my townhome association doesn't allow such planting in the yard.

Who knew 4th grade was important?

As best that I can remember from left to right, starting at the top: Mint, Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Cilantro/Coriander, Basil, Tarragon, Dill.

I'm starting my herb garden the way I learned in 4th grade. Lay the seeds out on a wet paper towel and cover. They should start sprouting in a few days.

Coriander is the seed form of Cilantro.

Basil seeds.

These are so cool! Just about 2 minutes under the wet paper towel and already they begin to transform. Don't these kind of look like caviar at this stage?

I do admit to having a brown thumb when it comes to gardening so this might be a bit of an adventure at best. At worst, I'll be starting this over again next week. I can't wait to start cooking with these though. They say food tastes better when you make it yourself. I'm hoping the same is true when you grow your own herbs.

Is that a sale in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

2008-05-08T06:32:00.004-05:00

Actually, it's both! Little Brown Bird is having a sale on Etsy.

************SALE TODAY!!!************
**10% off all Fine Silver
**BOGO!- Buy one Chiyogami or Deco paper decoupage pendant or pendant and tin set, get one of equal or lesser vale for FREE!
**30% off all other bracelets,earrings,necklaces, or hair accessories!
**SPECIAL SHIPPING BONUS-
Buy three or more items and get free shipping!

YOU MUST WAIT FOR ME TO SEND YOU A REVISED INVOICE BEFORE COMPLETING PAYMENT!
(All sales final. Sale prices not applicable to custom orders.)************************************

No Excuses (part 2) Setting Goals- Defining a Specific Target

2008-05-07T19:27:00.007-05:00

Often times we think of our on line business as an extension of our favorite hobby. This is disastrous thinking if we intend on making that business a success. Our hobbies are what we use to escape the ugliness of “work”, but once we cross that line from creating for enjoyment to creating for income, we have to change our way of thinking. That’s not to say that you have to give up your hobby. Just know that the things you create but don’t intend to sell are your hobby items now. Those items that are created to sell or use as promotional tools are your business.

Ok, so having established which are your hobby items and which are your business, ask yourself this question: Is my business as successful as it could be? I’ll bet each one of you reading this heard a resounding “NO!” in your head. I’ll even bet some of you said it out loud. Many of us start each year, month, week, or whatever telling ourselves that some day we’ll sell more…some day we’ll be so successful that we won’t know what to do with ourselves. Well…how, my dear, do you plan on doing that? You can’t get to Disney World without a plan. And once you get there, you’d better have a map and be prepared to wait in line…unless… you know exactly where you want to go. Wandering aimlessly around the internet, listing items wildly on every site you find is about as effective as if you were at Disney World, standing in every line for every ride, when all you really want to do is get to Cinderella’s Castle. Have you figured out the analogy yet? The castle is your goal. And it can represent anything, you just have to define it. Once you do that, your odds of meeting that goal will be much better.

So what now? We need to identify our individual goals. No wait, screw that, it sounds too much like homework. Just answer this question: What is it that you want to accomplish with regard to your business? Do you even want to be in business? If your answer to the second question is “No, this is just a hobby.” then stop here. Take your items off-line and stop cluttering up the web with mindless junk. In this scenario, on the road to success, you are either a speeding two-ton truck or you are road kill, creating speed bumps for the rest of us. Now, if the answer to the first question is “Total World Domination”…ok, well, you’re still dreaming, but at least you’re headed in the right direction.

Why don’t we start with something a little more attainable like, “I would like to double my sales from last year.” Or, if you don’t really have any sales to speak of from last year, pick a number. It could be 50 sales, 100 sales, or a dollar amount like $500, $1000, $5000. Whatever the number, be realistic. That does not mean pick a low number. It is perfectly realistic to pick any one of the numbers I mentioned, even if it’s at the high end. Other sellers have done it, why can’t we? I’m going to set my goal at doubling my current sales. Now, that isn’t random but I have to state that clearly in order to have a set number in mind. As of my one year anniversary on Etsy, I had made 49 sales in my on-line shop. To keep it simple, I’ll round that up to 50. According to my goal for this year, I should make 100 additional sales by March 27 next year. I have picked a particular number, a clear target to reach. I am now 5 weeks into my second year on Etsy and already, I have 16 sales in my jewelry shop. That’s 1/3 of my total sales from my first year, made in just over a month. Not a bad start.

The idea is to keep that going. We are headed into summer in the US which is notoriously slower in retail, generally speaking. It is, however, a busier time for those who choose to sell their handmade items at art and craft fairs. I cringe at the thought! Sitting behind a table in the hot summer months hawking my jewelry is not my idea of fun in the least. But it is definitely one way to boost sales, big time! It is also difficult for anyone in my position who works a 40 hour a week job and needs to be at work on the weekends. (Did I tell you I love retail?) That makes it very difficult for me to sell at art fairs and festivals since I don’t want my jewelry business to disrupt my full time job if I can help it. Another option for me might be to do house parties during the week. A few hours selling at private parties has often put an extra $700 or so in my pocket. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

So, if you haven’t done it yet, a very important goal for this coming summer should be to book a few festivals or parties to keep the cash flow a little steady. If you’re lucky and have the time and energy to devote to one of these a week or every two weeks, you should be sitting pretty well before the holiday shopping season in the fall. Don’t forget to plan your inventory accordingly! Check out your local and state government web pages to find festivals in your area. In Illinois, check out the Illinois Arts Council for a yearly schedule of all the arts and craft fairs in the state. They put out a book each year with a list of all the festivals and art fairs, dates, entry fees, contact information, and deadlines. If you’re not in Illinois, try checking out a great web site called Eventlister.com to find events in your area. Many of these fairs have entry deadlines way in advance of the actual fair date, so now is a good time to plan for next year as well.

Get your goals in order and stick with the plan. A clearly defined target is by far the best motivator!

**************************************
Mary Ryan is not an expert in Marketing and Promoting, just a keen observer in the retail business of which she has been cursed to work in for most of her adult life. She is an Interior Design Consultant and Jewelry Designer and sells her jewelry online in several venues (some still under construction) including
http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com/
http://littlebrownbird.silkfair.com/
http://littlebrownbird.icraft.ca/
Her blog can be read at http://thelittlebrownbird.blogspot.com/

No-Excuses!

2008-04-19T08:04:00.006-05:00

(This article was originally published on the Jewelry on Etsy Team Blog. Follow-up articles will be posted on both blog sites.)

A multi-part series on marketing, promoting for your online shop.

As a jewelry designer, I always wish I had more time to play around with my shiny beads and findings, creating new little pretties. But as a business woman, I get very frustrated when those same little pretties sit in my on-line shop too long. I would love the day when I can say that I am a full time jewelry designer. But if my pieces don’t sell, that will never be a reality.

I just started selling on-line in March of 2007 on Etsy. And now, at my one year anniversary of opening my Etsy shop, I am taking a look at some much needed changes for my business. Last year, my biggest goal was to get off my butt and get my on-line shop open. I had wasted so much time in previous years wishing and dreaming, and trying to build my own web site with absolutely no clue what I was doing. When I came upon Etsy, it was like a godsend! A ready-made shop to which I only needed to add my jewelry. It was such a no-brainer for someone like me in order to get up and running as quickly as possible. Mission accomplished for 2007! I was so proud of myself.

By the end of July, I was beating my head against the wall with very little sales and no clue how to increase them. I had been reading the Etsy forums religiously and trying to gather all the information I could on how to promote my shop. Here’s what I learned:

*Post in the Forums often to get your shop noticed
*Join the chat rooms to get your shop noticed
*List often to get your shop noticed
*Add a funny comment to the treasuries to get your shop noticed

Guess what I noticed…none of these things worked. I was spending lots of time doing nothing but watching my little avatar on the screen and checking my shop for hearts and views and no sales. Why didn’t I have any sales? I even read those forum threads entitled “Why Don’t I Have Any Sales?” hoping to get some answers. The more I read, the more depressed I got. Everyone sounded like me. At least I wasn’t alone in my misery. I felt like one of those blind mice, walking into walls and never getting anywhere. I marveled at sellers who seemed to have the magic touch. One such seller has been on Etsy only 3 months longer than I have, yet her sales in her jewelry shop alone are pushing 1000. I still would like to know all her secrets but I am starting to realize, they aren’t secrets at all, just good business sense.

But try teaching business to an artist! Having just basic business classes in school, from which I learned nearly nothing, I am left to either wing it or learn from the masters. I started looking at what the top sellers were doing. Not so much what they were selling as HOW they were selling. And I began to make a list that answered the most often asked question, “WHY DON’T I HAVE ANY SALES?!” This time, instead of retreating to the old forum threads, I took a look at my own shop. Here’s what learned this time around:

*Your pictures suck!
*Your one sucky picture in each listing is the only picture in the listing
*Your descriptions suck!
*You don’t have sizes listed
*You don’t ship internationally
*Your domestic shipping charges are outrageous
*You don’t have any tags or have only a few tags in each of your listings
*Oh yah, and your tags suck too!
*You believe that the tips you learned from that famous forum thread actually work
*You believe that it just takes time
*You believe that if serious buyers want your items they will come and find you
*You think it’s cute or a signature trademark to have a family photo or weird picture as your avatar
*Your location is a web address, or worse, not even listed

Well, it’s time to wake up from La La Land, sweetheart, and realize that you are running a business! In the following posts I will attempt to explain away some of the mystery of why sales just aren’t happening.

Here are the things we will be focusing on to help us hit our target.

1. Setting goals (Define a specific target to aim for)
2. Your product (Step up your game)
3. Your pricing (Get what you are worth)
4. Descriptions (Really? Are you kidding?)
5. Photos (What the heck is that? Vs. Ooh! What’s that?!)
6. Merchandising (Dressing your best)
7. Marketing (Are you where you need to be?)
8. Promoting (Passive vs. aggressive)

Stay tuned for the first step in our 8-step rehab program…Setting Goals.

**************************************

Mary Ryan is not an expert in Marketing and Promoting, just a keen observer in the retail business of which she has been cursed to work in for most of her adult life. She is an Interior Design Consultant and Jewelry Designer and sells her jewelry online in several venues (some still under construction) including

Etsy http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com/
Silkfair http://littlebrownbird.silkfair.com/
iCraft http://icraft.ca/littlebrownbird

Her blog can be read at http://thelittlebrownbird.blogspot.com/

WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!! Front Page!

2008-04-10T17:52:00.007-05:00

Wow! For the second time in my (Etsy)life one of my items made it to the front page! I had a feeling when I saw the awesome treasury this morning put together by bittystar that included my Lemon Poppy Carved Shell Necklace. Here it is!

HA! Well, you get the idea. Unfortunately I can't seem to get the screen shot to show it right. But if you squint real hard at the upper left corner of the group of "pictures", you will see the Lemon Poppy necklace that I blogged about below in today's earlier post. It is available now in my shop on Etsy. (See the link below)

Expanding My Reach

2008-04-10T09:09:00.005-05:00

Lemon Poppy Carved Shell Necklace

Ok, so I've been wanting to post a new series of articles about promoting and marketing my shop. The first of the articles is posted, but not here. It's on the Jewelry on Etsy Team blog. I thought my fellow team members could benefit from my advice and even give me additional advice in my quest for total world domination!

Early Morning Earrings

And I just want to post a few new items of mine here because I think the page needs a little spring color! Enjoy

Citurs Splash Carved Shell Necklace

These can all be found in my shop on Etsy. If they aren't listed yet, they will be very soon!

Honey Dew Sweet Petites

SALE!

2008-04-02T09:49:00.003-05:00

Now until April 6,2008 LittleBrown Bird will be offering

**20% off**

any item in the shop!

The sale is good on already reduced items in the sale section, as well as all fine silver pieces, all decoupage pendants (even the Chiyogami pendants), and personalized items already listed.

This is the first time I've done a discount like this and the only sale that is not a one-day sale.

After the sale, some items may no longer be available!

I will be revamping the shop took have much different look. Unfortunately, this means that some items just will not fit in with the new style. See the shop announcement for important details!!

Here's What I Found In The Hunt

2008-03-16T09:36:00.008-05:00

The Jewelry on Etsy Team Treasure Hunt is over and I have been going over some stats. I kept track of my sales, hearts, views, and other little tid-bits of info from when the hunt began through to the end. Sorry for the all the boring stats. These are all personal stats pertaining to just my shop, because I wasn't about to try to keep track of everyone! The conclusions and personal observations toward the end of this post are what I think are really interesting. Although there is still some time left for the winners to go back and purchase more items for the shopping spree, here is what I found so far:

Results from 3-14-08 Treasure Hunt

(12:00pm 3-14-08 through 5:00pm 3-15-08)
73 items in shop
Hunt item is 5th item in shop, Page 1
Total # treasuries during the hunt 7

**2 hour down time during hunt when there was a dropped link

Total New Views 97 (Fri.)/207 (Sat.)=304
Pg. 1- 88 views(Fri.)/116 views(Sat.)=204 views on page 1
*Fri.-3 items in 5 treasuries, hunt item
*Sat.-2 items in 2 treasuries

Pg. 2- 4 views(Fri)/ 50 views(Sat.)=54 views on page 2
*Fri.-1 item in treasury, 0 views on treasury item
*Sat. 1 item in treasury, 0 views on treasury item

Pg. 3- 1 view(Fri)/21 views (Sat)=22 views on page 3
Pg. 4- 4 views(Fri)/20 views(Sat)= 24 views on page 4

Total New Views Past Hunt Item 24 (Fri)/ 143(Sat)= 167 views

Item With Most Views
Cherry Bombs Earrings (Hunt item)44(Fri)/30(Sat)=74 views

Item With 2nd Most Views
Hand Prints Earrings (in 2 treasuries)14(Fri)/15(Sat)=29 views

Item with 3rd Most Views
Mod-Flower Decoupage Pendant (1st item in shop)7(Fri)/9(Sat)=16 views

Total # of Items with 2 or 0 views 54
Items listed are to illustrate where the views dropped off
Item #5 (Hunt item)
Item #6 (in 2 treasuries)
Item #7 (1 view prior to down time*)
Item #8 (1 view prior to down time*)

Zero views prior to down time* begin at Item # 9, out of 73 items in shop!

*2 hour down time when there was a dropped link in the hunt beginning at my shop. I believe the only reason these items were viewed at all is because someone was trying to track down the missing link. Prior to the down time these same items had 0 views.

Total New Item Hearts 3 hearts(of these, 2 items in 2 treasuries, all items on pg. 1)
1 Heart Hand Prints Fine Silver Earrings (in 2 treasuries, shop pg. 1)
1 Heart Cherry Blossom Fine Silver Ring (in 2 treasuries, shop pg. 1)
1 Heart Lullaby Dolly Decoupage Pendant Necklace (shop pg. 1)

Total New Shop Hearts 2(Fri)/2(Sat)=4 hearts

Total New Sales during hunt 0
Total New Sales from hunt winners 1

Other Shop Totals Overall
Item With Most Hearts 12 Cherry Blossom Fine Silver Ring (in 2 treasuries, shop pg. 1)

Item With 2nd Most Hearts
6 Hand Prints Fine Silver Earrings (in 2 treasuries, shop pg. 1)
6 Leila Sterling Silver Bracelet* (relisted once, shop pg. 2)
6 Ariel Dichroic Glass Bracelet* (relisted once, shop pg. 3)
(*No hearts on these items since 2-19-08, Ariel in treasury at that time)

Total Items With No Hearts At All 27
Pg. 1- 10 items
Pg. 2- 8 items(of these 1 item in treasury)
Pg. 3- 6 items
Pg. 4- 3 items
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conclusion 1: Treasure Hunt did not appear to be as effective as it could have been at getting people to look through the shops (at least my shop).

Possible Reasons For Conclusion 1: Hunt item was item #5 in the shop. Of the 73 items in the shop, more than 1/2 the total new views were for only items 1-5*, indicating that people stopped looking through the shop as soon as they found the link to the next shop.

*See Above (Total # of Items With 2 or 0 Views)

Conclusion 2: Disproportionate number of views for hunt item compared to others, (More than 2x the number of the second most viewed item. Also, 2nd most viewed item was in 2 treasuries.) indicating that people jumped directly to the hunt item from the clue.

Possible Reasons For Conclusion 2: Hunt clue was too easily solved?

Possible solutions or improvements to be made for next time:
~More exposure to additional items may have been gained if the hunt item had not sold and needed to be relisted prior to the hunt.

~Should have had the sold hunt item changed to another item further into the shop instead of relisting, putting it at the front of the shop.

~The clues were cute, clever, and well done and made the hunt alot of fun for the players. But, it might have been better if the clue did not pertain to the item’s name or physical appearance of item. This way, players would have to actually view and read the descriptions of several items in the shop before finding the clue and continuing on. Possibly future clues should include trivia questions about the item's written description, size, or secondary pictures so that players cannot jump directly to that item, skipping past all others in the shop. I did not have time to go through the entire hunt from start to finish, so I don't really know about all the clues other than that in my own shop.

~I did like the clues for the instant prizes. I thought they were just tricky enough to be challenging but not frustrating. And I liked how it got people to look at shop profiles as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Personal Observations

All in all, I think the hunt did gain some exposure for the shops involved. It actually gained the most exposure for the hunters that joined in the thread, as many JETs went to check out their shops as well. (Note to self: Jump in on other teams contests and post to their contest threads!) I cannot say that others who did not complete the hunt did not look at some of the shops involved. But one thing is for sure, aside from looking for the missing link, VERY little attention was given to items further into the shop than the hunt item itself, and almost no attention at all given to items on the 3rd and 4th pages of the shop. Overall, these pages get very little action anyway. It may be wiser to trim back the number of items in the shop and list only 2 pages worth. I will have to go back and look now at individual items and if their views are significantly lower, maybe put them in edit mode until some other items sell, or let them expire and do not renew unless the shop is under 2 pages.

2008-03-13T18:03:00.002-05:00

The Jewelry on Etsy Street Team (JET) is getting ready for their next fabulous Treasure Hunt.
...you just follow the clues leading through 17 of our member's shops until you find our...

POT 'O GOLD
The contest begins Friday, March 14th at noon. (EST)So, mark the date and get ready for a fun-filled hunt.
What's in the pot you ask????

How about we let our friend the leprechaun
tell you...
"Hey there etsy lovers...how about I make a big POT of corned beef and cabbage???? Heh Heh...don't think many of you would search for that in our contest. The truth is...maybe I will brew a batch of green beer in the POT. No...you won't search for that either.
For now I can tell you this......all the "Lucky" etsians who correctly complete the hunt will be winners of a One Day Shopping Spree at select members' shops. And, you don't even have to be Irish!
In addition, the first 20 correct entries, submitted by residents in the United States, will receive a handmade pair of pierced earrings created by a member of the team. Due to the complex legal systems in many different countries, the earring giveaway cannot be extended to etsy members outside of the United States.
I'll tell you a little secret, (don't tell anyone), the team is also going to have "Instant Winners" throughout the hunt. But, you have to keep checking the hunt promo thread to win!! So...I'll see you at the hunt."
Take a look in the JET TEAM Shop and you will see examples of the beautiful artisan treasures created by our members.
Keep your eyes open for our contest thread in the Etsy Forums on March 14th at noon. It will be in the Promotions section. All the hunt rules will be posted there.
Don't forget.....Contest begins at noon on March 14, 2008. (etsy time)
Links:
Jet Team Shop: http://jetteam.etsy.com/
Etsy Forums: http://www.etsy.com/forums_main.php
Promotion Section: http://www.etsy.com/forums_board.php?forum_id=6

An Interesting Etsy Experiment

2008-03-11T07:58:00.004-05:00

For all of those artists that live through the mystery of selling on-line, particularly on Etsy, here is an experiment to keep an eye on.

My fellow JET (Jewelry on Etsy Team) team member, Tara from CombustionGlassworks, has begun a two week experiment in which she is listing 15 items per day and analyzing her results. The categories to be analyzed are sales, store hearts, and ratio to past sale frequency. I think her results may be very interesting. You can follow her progress and see her results here.

Jewelry on Etsy Team March Treasure Hunt

2008-03-08T08:11:00.002-06:00

We're at it again! The talented Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET), of which I am a member, is hosting another treasure hunt on March 14, 2008. Official rules will be posted in the Promotion Forum on Etsy that morning. There will be a treasure hunt through the JET team shops and many of the shop ownewrs will be having One-Day-Only sales.

Little Brown Bird will be having an
extra 10% off already reduced prices
in the Sale section of the shop.

PREVIEW LITTLE BROWN BIRD'S
ONE-DAY-ONLY SALE

A list of all of the participating shops will be posted in the sale thread.
Again, this is one day only!

HAPPY HUNTING!

What the Heck Have I Been Up To?

2008-02-26T07:55:00.016-06:00

I know, I know, It's been a while since I've talked about my own work. Well, I have been working on some more of those Fine Silver pieces. I hope my new jewelry scale shows up in the mail soon. I can then price some of these and have them listed for sale in my shop. Here's a preview of a pendant that I'm pretty darn proud of:

You may recognize it from my earlier post on firing Fine Silver in my little beehive kiln. It's amazing to see the finished piece. The oxidation process was cool, as you never know exactly what color you will end up with. I used the boiled egg method to oxidize this piece as well as several others. I love the results!

I've also been working on some new decoupage pieces, some of which are already listed in my shop. I have been on a vintage kick lately so I thought these vintage cartoons would look great on a pendant.

They are strung on 16" sheer ribbon but can be made with a 14" ribbon on request to be more suited to fit a child (as any of my pendants may be made). I still have plenty of Japanese Chiyogami pendants in my shop any many waiting to be listed, like this one.

And, I have some new earrings, some with vintage beads, recylced pieces, and a bit different from my previous pieces.

There are so many pieces waiting to be listed so keep an eye on this blog or on my Flickr page to see the very latest. You may even snag something before it gets listed! If you are interested in purchasing anything that you see here or on Flickr but don't see it in my shop, you may always leave me a comment here, or you can contact me through my Etsy shop and don't forget to leave me your email address so that I may contact you directly.

Update On The Search For Nicholas Francisco

2008-02-18T18:43:00.004-06:00

Nicholas is the husband of fellow Etsy artist, Christine Francisco. He was last seen on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 when he left his work and began his commute home.

As of today, Nicholas Franciso is still missing. Police, however, have recovered his car from a condominium complex about 30 miles from home. At this time, the police are awaiting a warrant to search the car. Seattle are residents are meeting right now to begin canvassing the are for information.

You can view the latest here.
****************************************************
As of November 10, 2009: Nicolas has been found, alive and well, living under a new name in a new state. Read the full story here.

MISSING!: Searching For Nicholas

2008-02-17T08:17:00.006-06:00

Please help this fellow Etsian. A plea was posted on the Etsy forums today. Fellow Etsy artist Christine Francisco of rinnovibodyspa is desperately searching for her husband, Nicholas Francisco. He has been missing since Feb. 13, 2008 from the Seattle, Washington area. Information about the search and links to news articals can be found in her opening post in the thread.

Click here to view pictures of Nicholas and the car he was driving. If you have any information, please contact 911 .

*********************************************************************
Update as of November 10, 2009
Nicolas has been found, having changed his name after his disappearance and moved to California to live a new life. Read the full story. I never met Christine or Nicolas, I know nothing about there personal life, I make no judgements on what I don't know. I'm done.

Purple Snowpeas- Featured Etsy Artist

2008-02-06T07:35:00.000-06:00

Purple Snowpeas is the alter ego of Katheryn Short from Baltimore, Maryland. She is a photographer, having learned her craft at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Although her main focus has always been photography (no pun intended), she also enjoys bookmaking and knitting.

Katheryn's shop is full of hand-knit accessories, hand-bound books, photography, and note cards. And her photographs are haunting.

No suprise, Kathryn now teaches art and photography at the high school level.

She loves to knit and crochet, take photographs while walking outdoors, craft small books for collecting thoughts, and anything else that keeps her hands busy. You can find the products of her busy hands at her Etsy shop, Purple Snowpeas.

You can visit Katheryn's blog at http://purple-snowpeas-shop.blogspot.com/

Tiffany Teske- Featured Etsy Artist

2008-02-05T08:06:00.000-06:00

The 90 Day Challenge is on! And here is the first of 90 Etsy artists that I will be featuring. I'm not going in order on the official list, so you never know who will be next (until I get around to posting a schedule).

Today's Featured Etsy Artist

Tiffany Teske

From Tiffany's Profile on Etsy:

I have loved photography since I was given a 110 camera at the age of 7, to capture memories on a family trip. I studied ballet, creative writing, and art in high school but did not take photography classes. Instead, I was "the after school photography club" and was taught by a science teacher how to use the darkroom. The chemicals got into my blood, and after roaming the US for 5 years (Arizona, Florida, Connecticut, & New York) I settled in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, population 200, and home to Sugarloaf USA, and decided to go to University for.... nursing?

Well, yes, I did start the pre req courses, but fate stepped in, and after one summer colour printing course and some credit mishaps on the school's part, I switched my major to photography. I graduated from the University of Maine at Augusta with both an Associate of Arts in Photography (Magna cum Laude) in 2000 and a Bachelor of Arts Joint BA in Art and Photography (Magna cum Laude) in 2002. Did I mention that I drove 3 hours round trip to school, 2-3 times a week, for 5 years? If it weren’t for computer courses I would have driven even more… oh, and I met my future husband during this time, who was from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, a 12 hour round trip drive the other direction. I drove back and forth for three years before we married. Now, we live in Banff, Alberta, Canada, with our toddler, Quinlyn, and I WALK EVERYWHERE ;)It has been a fun ride all along. If you want to know more, feel free to check out the About Tiffany section on my website at www.oldesage.com.

My Favorite Materials are... TMAX and HP5 black and white film; Polaroid peel apart films for transfers and emulsion lifts; all kinds of paper; fiber based prints made in the darkroom; hand colouring markers; archival mats I cut myself; black metal frames for sleekness and gold gilded frames for romance; silver and copper jewelry components; gel medium; bamboo tiles; poker chips; bottle caps; watercolour paperI am thrilled to be presenting my work to you on Etsy. Please note that all of my work comes from a non smoking and pet free environment. Thanks for looking!

Tiffany

Besides her shop on Etsy, Tiffany's work can be viewed at these following sites:

PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO is available at http://www.oldesage.com/

FLICKR account is http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffanyteske/

MORE IMAGES at http://www.jpgmag.com/people/tteske

Indie Public profile is http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/TiffanyTeske

Etsy 90 Day Challenge- 90 Days, 90 Artists

2008-02-05T07:47:00.000-06:00

There is a challenge on Etsy for all "Etsians" who blog. It is the 90 Day Challenge. The idea is to feature one fellow Etsy artist a day for 90 days on my blog, and in turn, be a featured artist on someone else's blog each day. I will try to keep up with the schedule! If I don't manage to get a new artist featured every day, I promise I will still feature all 90 artists even if it takes 180 days. Save this blog in your favorites (or save it in your Technorati Favorites) to check back each day and find out which talented Etsy artist is featured each day.

Treasure Hunt Update

2008-01-25T07:30:00.000-06:00

Two people have finished the hunt already!! Get going and join in on the fun! See the details below in yesterday's post.

JET Team Treasure Hunt

2008-01-24T10:47:00.000-06:00

The hunt is on! Well, it will be. Starting tomorrow, Friday January 24, 2008 through Saturday January 25th the Jewelry on Etsy Team will be hosting a treasure hunt on Etsy. Prizes will be awarded to the winner from 5 JET team member shops including

Little Brown Bird
Lushbeads
The Vintage Jewelry Box
Zen Creations
Handmade Jewelry by Michele

Here's a picture of the prizes -the links will be listed in the opening post of the treasure hunt thread.

Watch the promotions forum on Etsy to join in the hunt!
Here's the link to start the JET Treasure Hunt! There are 24 shops that have the treasure hiding in one of its listings.

Helpful hint: The first post of the thread shows 23 shops. There's info about the 24th participating shop on page 6 of the treasure hunt thread. You must find all 24 treasures to win!!

Here are some more details on the Treasure Hunt from the JET Team blog.

(Remember-Etsy has recently updated their site. The forums can now be found by clicking the Community link at the top of the Etsy page, then click on Forums.)

HAPPY HUNTING!!!!

Shiny, shiny, pretty, pretty...

2008-01-15T07:51:00.001-06:00

Ooh, I'm excited! Yesterday, I finally fired some fine silver pieces in my kiln. With much running around in the past year, I had these pieces ready to be fired and finished for about, um, 8 or 9 months and just got around to doing it now. Ok, so I have a little bit of a procrastination problem but I promise to work on that too when I get the time! Anyway, I love the pieces that are done so far.

These are made of fine silver (.999). Fine silver is a product that was developed from tiny, microscopic particals of silver recycled from old film. The particals are bound in a clay that can be manipulized into whatever you wish. Then, when dried and fired in a kiln, the binding agent in the clay burns away leaving behind pure silver. It's a beautiful medium to work with and I've been using it for about the past three years. Most, if not all, of the pieces that I've created are part of my personal collection so far. But now I am going to be listing some of the new things in my Etsy shop, Little Brown Bird. I'm really excited about some of the new things. I duplicated a couple of pairs of earrings that I wear quite often and they will be listed in the shop. I also completed the silver portion of a pair of earrings that I promised my sister a year ago that I would make for her. Whatever, she can wait, it's not like I'm making her buy them! (Kidding, Nancy, they"ll be done soon.)

My favorite part of the whole process is this...

...the moment the binding agent is burned away. The piece flames up for about a second or two and then shrinks just a bit as the binder burns. My kiln is a small one (yes, with a cracked kiln plate, but it works fine), just a table-top style about the size of a small coffee pot.

It gets extremely hot. In fact while I'm busy writing this, I have just destroyed a small piece I was firing because I let it get too hot! Thankfully, it was a very small piece because the price of silver is becoming outrageous!

The process is facinating ...

I think I let the kiln get a little too hot for this piece. It began to show a crystalization on the surface, which actually was kind of cool, had I been trying to do it. I'm not sure I could duplicate the effect though. And since this was one of a pair of earrings, that could be a problem.

The kiln can be touchy, not every part of the kiln plate has exactly the same temperature. These earrings were fired in the kiln at the same time but ended up with very different looks. All was fine in the end though. After a little burnishing, the two pieces began to look the same.

These pieces (below) were just out of the kiln, cooled and ready to be brushed with a brass brush. Just after firing, the silver is a bright white color until the silver particals are flattend down. The brass brush helps do this and you begin to see a soft silver color emerge.

Depending on the final finish that you want for the piece, it can be tumbled for a high shine, or left brushed for a soft glow. Some of my favorite pieces are very lightly sanded creating a beautiful comtemporary look. You can add a patina using a few different methods (liver of sulfur, or the "egg" method) and give the final piece an antiqued look. I have used liver of sulfur in the past to create some fantastic colors. I think I will try the egg method on some of the new pieces and see what happens. I'll post those when I get them done. But here are a couple of my favorite earrings that I recreated to list on Etsy.

Grand Opening!

2008-01-15T07:26:00.001-06:00

Well, I finally bit the bullet and got it done. A new goal for 2008 has already been met. I wanted to open a supply shop on Etsy to do a little destashing of some of the supplies that I have accumulated over the years and here it is, In The Raw. It's hard, as a beadaholic, to let some of these things go. But, this is a great opportunity to make room for the new things I keep finding but can't justify buying until I thin things out a bit.

My intention with this new shop is not just to destash, but to keep this going and stock it eventually with new things, maybe overstock from bulk purchases that will keep prices down.

In The Raw will not only carry jewelry supply items though. I have fabrics, leather, and other bits and pieces that have been standing by waiting for me to get around to making countless things. The sad part is, I just haven't had the time to actually make them. But I know these things will find a good home with some incredibally talented and creative people.

I would love to feature artists here on my blog that send me photos of their finished pieces using the items that they buy from In The Raw. Like a mother that longs to see her children grow and prosper, I can't wait to see what wonderful things these beads, findings, and other inspiring elements will become!

So much talent!!

2008-01-09T08:01:00.000-06:00

Jewelry on Etsy team (JET) is now on Talent Database!

Thanks to the hard work of ShinyAdornments the JET team now has a page on Talent Database. I added a picture of my Salena Hill Tribe Silver and Turquoise Earrings (shown below) to the portfolio page.

As described on the web site:
"The Global Talent Database is the world’s most comprehensive talent search engine and artist directory. Think of it similar to a global Yellow Pages designed to connect the creative class with enthusiasts around the world. The database takes the guesswork out of where to find top talent on the web, and provides a searchable listing that narrows in on what the user is looking for. By creating a free listing, artists and performers can directly link to their work, and immediately start networking with The World of Talent."

I think this is a great opportunity for all the JET team members to network and expand our marketing to reach countless people around the world. And it's one more place to showcase jewelry from Little Brown Bird.

Thanks Shiny for getting us going!

And don't forget to check out the JET Team shop to see more pretty, shiny things from other JET team members.

2007-12-31T03:31:00.001-06:00

NEW YEAR'S EVE SALE

**December 31,2007**

brought to you by the

JEWELRY ON ETSY TEAM

On December 31,2007 the Jewelry on Etsy Team will be having a clearance sale. Just go to Etsy and type JETT in the search to come up with plenty of Jewelry on Etsy Team members! You can start here, with Little Brown Bird!!

Last Minute New Year's Eve

2007-12-27T07:37:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We are all recovering now in some way, be it excessive blood glucose levels, high stress, or too much family "togetherness". But now the end of 2007 is here and hopefully your New Year's Eve plans are in place.

If you haven't got your New Year's Eve plans set in stone you can try checking out Metromix for any events happening near major metropolitan areas around the US. Metromix has the latest info on bars and night clubs that will be ringing in the new year. Or if your plans are to be a little more laid-back you can get the scoop on movies, theater, or restaurants.

But, if you're thinking a little more "international" this New Year's Eve, try a web site called PubClub. They have a list of some of the top party places around the world to be this New Year's Eve and where NOT to be. It not only tells you the secrets to making your evening special, but also gives you inside tips to making New Year's Eve hassel free. PubClub will tell you why New York's Times Square is not the ideal place to watch the ball drop (like lack of public bathrooms, immobilizing crowds, etc.) but Bourbon Street in New Orleans may be the better bet. If you happen to be in Prague, Sydney, or Las Vegas you are sure to have plenty of options this New Year's Eve. But have you ever considered Honolulu? Amsterdam? Or Whistler, BC?

Santa's Not Getting These Babies!

2007-12-15T09:00:00.001-06:00

What goes better with Christmas than...coconut?!

Well, it hit, the seasonal urge to bake cookies. I spent hours trying to decide what kind of cookies to make. There are so many that I want to try!

I was feeling a little gun-shy after my first attempt at making homemade marshmallows last week. (The first batch immediately ended up in the garbage after I realized I was now wearing only nine acrylic nails that I had done just for the holidays!) But keeping the Christmas spirit, I decided to go ahead with making the cookies. This time, not wanting to play "French-tip" Russian roulette, I removed the rest of my "nails" before making the cookies.

I started out wanting to make my mother's famous mint snowballs but I had a special request for something with coconut. So I adapted a recipe (although not exactly my mother's secret recipe) and substituted the peppermint extract with coconut extract. The result, YUMMY!

The recipe follows but here a few tips.

When mixing the ingredients the dough seems a little dry and crumbly. Do not be tempted to add any liquid, it's perfect. It should look like this:

Even after chilling the dough, the mixture will seem to not want to stay together. But keep in mind, the dough is not meant to be rolled out or cut into perfect shapes. It does make it easier to use a measuring spoon to form the balls and make them a uniform size but you can make them look a little more "organic" by rolling the dough into a ball with your hands. Just be sure you don't pack the dough so tight or you'll end up with something like the consistency of a nice hard rock! These are meant to crumble and melt in your mouth when you bite into them.

After baking, they should be just slightly golden but not too brown. The picture above is before they went into the oven. And don't worry if the bottoms are a little jagged. The toasted coconut will hide this.

It's important to let the cookies cool on the baking sheet instead of transferring them to a cooling rack. They are still a little delicate when they are straight out of the oven and may break apart if they are handled too soon. Once they are cool you can begin to decorate them.

What I love about these cookies is that you can make so many different flavors from the same basic recipe. I decided on coconut because of a special request but you could make these with lime, rum, mint, or whatever. Keep in mind to taste test the dough if you are using a different flavored extract. The original recipe called for 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract which is a lot stronger flavor than the coconut. I ended up using 3 teaspoons of coconut extract, tasting after each teaspoon to get the flavor the way I wanted it. I wasn't sure about the coconut at first. I was afraid that they would come out tasting like a baked Pina Colada. But they had more of a yummy, nutty flavor and the aroma...to die for!

I also used what was called "fancy flake" style coconut flakes. Different manufacturers may call it something else but its basically coconut flakes that have been coated in sugar. This style makes the flakes sort of carmelize when toasted and makes them crispy and kind of sparkly.

The texture of these are dry at first with a little crunch from the toasted coconut but, turn smooth and almost creamy in your mouth. These are the perfect cookies for having with hot cocoa or a giant glass of milk.

Coconut Shortbread Snowball Cookies
(Makes about 45 cookies)

3 cups all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
3 teaspoons coconut extract

Into a bowl, sift the flour and salt to blend well and remove any lumps. In a separate bowl, cream the butter until smooth. Sift the powdered sugar into the butter and add the vegetable shortening. Beat the mixture until smooth. Beat in the coconut extract. Gently stir in the sifted flour and salt. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for 15 to 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Gently pack the dough into a rounded 1 tablespoon size measuring spoon to form a ½ ball shape. Gently remove the dough by pressing evenly with the side of your finger at one end of the ball to push the dough out and place on the baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until very lightly golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet before decorating.

To Decorate

1 cup fancy flake (lightly sugared) coconut flakes
1 1/3 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
1 tablespoon milk
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped

In a clean, ungreased skillet, lightly toast the coconut flakes, stirring often until lightly golden. Set aside to cool. In a bowl, stir together 1 cup of powdered sugar and milk to create a simple frosting. (Reserve the 1/3 cup powdered sugar for dusting.) Lightly sift some of the reserved powdered sugar over a new parchment lined baking sheet or tray. Take each cooled cookie and dip the bottom into the frosting coating the sides about 1/3 of the way up. Next, dip the bottom of the cookie into the toasted coconut and set on the baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the cookies. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate until silky smooth, keep on low heat. With a small spoon, take a bit of melted chocolate and top each cookie with a small amount. Do not cover the whole cookie. Repeat with the other cookies. Finally, lightly sift the rest of the powdered sugar over the top of all the cookies.