WOW...2009!

WOW, New Year's has come and gone and now it's March. I can not believe how fast time is passing. What can I say....I don't really have an excuse for not writing sooner...I'm just a slacker! I have been off in my own little world of creating and playing around with metal, wire, and beads! :) LOL Sometimes it feels like the days blend together! I feel blessed to be able to spend my time creating something I love! However, I also feel a tinge of guilt for being so selfish with my time and being such a procrastinator when it comes to other things. Anyway!

Have I confessed my distaste for computers and technology lately? No??? Well, I hate computers...this one especially! It is a lemon! I've nothing but problems with it since I bought it. I tell it I'm going to throw it out the front door if it don't play nice, but then it just acts worse! :) LOL

I haven't been using the computer lately...it just results in more frustration than success! :) I guess I really should contact tech support, but the last few times I did that, I knew more about it than they did...which isn't saying much! It's about like the saying..."the blind, leading the blind." :) I guess it's time to do something though! I think I'm going to buy a Mac.

So, I bet you all thought I had dropped off the face of the earth? Now you know why I haven't been online! I am sooo sorry for being out of contact for so long. I just haven't been able to make myself use this computer!

So, last time I posted was October! Wow....a lot has happened since then...

My uncle passed away November 2, 2008. So, the holidays and past few months were a little difficult for my family, especially my aunt and cousins. We have had a lot of deaths in our family over the past few years...I family is getting smaller and smaller. I'm an only child, but my mom has 3 sisters...and I have cousins. We are all really close...I don't know what I would do without them!

We spent New Year's at the beach (Caswell Beach, NC). It was a gorgeous week! It was loud and chaotic...just as it always is! :) I met with Linda at the artSHAK Gallery while I was down there. She loved my jewelry, and asked if I would like to show some of it in the gallery. It's doing great...over half of the pieces I left have sold! I have my second order going to the gallery tomorrow. So, it was a great trip!!!! The artSHAK Gallery is located in Southport, NC, which is...by the way, my favorite place...where I hope to one day live!!! Have I mentioned I love Southport? :) LOL The gallery on Howe Street near Dosher Hospital. I love the gallery!!! So, you can imagine how excited I was for the opportunity!!!

March 1st, it snowed! It was the most snow we have had in years. We have had crazy weather...but I guess that's normal for the Carolinas! So, last Monday, the high was 35 and there was snow on the ground, and this past Monday, it was 83 and sunny. What is it the say about March??? In like a lion, out like a lamb!

Anyway, that's all for now! :) I have been working on a LOT of new pieces...can't wait for you to see them! :)

xoxo - Jen

October already???

Sometimes I just can't believe how fast time flies by! I know this isn't the first time I've said this, but sometimes I'm just shocked at how fast time really goes by...I have intentions of doing certain things, like writing in this blog, and before I know it, months have pasted! It's almost like I don't have any concept of time...but then again, everyone does joke that I'm in my own little world!

It's so funny though...at times it's almost like time stands still...no, maybe it's just that I'm oblivious to it. I have been very blessed in the fact that I usually get to take as much time as I want off to make jewelry...but in doing so, it's as if demands and time schedules of normal life have been tossed aside. It's not that I don't still have responsibilities...it's just that I'm kinda on my own schedule. It's just so easy to lose track of time when you are doing something you love!

So, last entry was in July...gosh, I can't believe it has been that long.

So, I took a metalsmithing class with Joe, at Lapidary Arts, here in Charlotte. I REALLY enjoyed, and can't wait to go back. I also got to meet Ruby, she teaches several classes, including gem cutting, which I can't wait to take! Joe showed me a few of the basics...using the torch, the basics about soldering, and I learned how to size rings...also, about polishing and finishing a piece. Okay...so, I have to tell you, they made me sign a waiver...it said if I catch myself on fire, then they won't be held responsible! I wonder if someone actually caught their self on fire there? It's not funny, but at the same time, I have to wonder if that's what brought about the waiver! Anyway, I'm taking another class with Joe, Wednesday...I'm excited! I'll let you know how it goes. :)

In the mean time, I've been playing around with a few things...I been painting a little, I've made some jewelry...this and that, you know how it is! :) LOL Whatever crafty urge I have at the time! :) I road around a few days and went to some of the galleries in Noda, which is the historic art district in Charlotte. I also went downtown one day. Yeah...can't help but think of Tolkien's quote, "Not all who wander are lost." I seem to wander a lot...that might actually be an understatement! :) ...it's more like I'm always wandering! LOL By the way, I'm not a huge Lord of the Ring fan...more indifferent to it than anything...honestly, I've never even read the books or seen the movie, but who hasn't heard the quote! Maybe it just stuck with me so strongly because it just rings so true to who I am...or how I live...whether mentally or physically, I'm always wandering....oh yeah, I'm a rambler too! LOL :)

Speaking of wandering around...a week or so ago, we had a huge gas shortage here in the south. It was actually pretty crazy...and kinda scary. It really makes you think though! They reported on CNN, that people were even fighting at pumps, and in at least one occasion, a gun was drawn. Now, I didn't personally witness that, but lines were LONG, in some cases hours, and there were a couple of days when I think most stations, at least here in Charlotte, were sold out of gas completely. I went to the doctor one day, up near Lake Norman, and I passed 11 stations, on the way there, none of which had gas. Anyway, just something a little crazy, I thought I would share! :)

So, a few weeks ago, I was looking online at sterling charms, and I came across the cutest sterling/enamel charms...I just had to order some of them. I have a charm bracelet...actually two bracelets, a silver and a gold one, but the silver one, is by far my favorite. I have had both of them for many years, and have been collecting charms and receiving them as gifts for a long time...the last was a gift from my cousin April. She brought me back a sterling Eiffel Tower charm from her trip to Paris in March. Anyway, I ordered a few for me, and a few extra, and from this, my new Say it isn't so...Charm Collection, was born...

These are the first few pieces:

By the way, my best friend, April, has worked in the airline industry for years. I had to throw in a little airline humor just for her...only because she said I would make one...I think I'll give it to her for Christmas!! :) LOL

These necklaces are sterling silver, and they feature hand-stamped sterling discs, that are stamped with quotes and phrases. Each charm is matched with a sterling silver or sterling silver/enamel charm that compliments it's meaning. The hand-stamped charms are chemically oxidized/antiqued, to better show the letters, and then they are polished back to a bright shine.

These sterling silver necklace are available in a variety of lengths 14", 16", 18", and 20"...and this round is available on a 1.5mm ball chain or a 1mm snake chain (available in 16, 18, and 20 inches).

...still updating! LOL :)

May 20, 2008 - Bust Magazine: For Women With Something To Get Off Their Chests



On May 20, the June/July 2008 issue of Bust Magazine hit the stands. Jennifer Gardner Designs was featured in a Co-op Ad along with other Etsy sellers. The "Serenity" necklace was featured in this advertisement, which can be found on page 31.

May 11, 2008 - Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion

On May 11, June/July 2008 issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion hit the stands. Jennifer Gardner Designs was featured in a Co-op Ad along with other Etsy sellers. The "A Little Drop of Sunshine Will Make the Flower Grow" necklace was featured in this advertisement, which can be found on page 5.

Updating my website....

Today I've been taking some much needed time to update my website (Jennifer Gardner Designs).....

I added several pieces, added the first few pieces to my new Wedding Jewels Collection, and updated the company news...

I'm still working on it, but this is a sneak peak! :)

On May 6, Volume 7 of Craft Magazine hit the stands. Jennifer Gardner Designs was featured in a Co-op Ad along with other Etsy sellers. The "Roses are Red" necklace was featured in this advertisement, which can be found on page 158.

Jennlyn54 (aka Jennifer Gardner Designs) was featured in Etsy's Gift Guide. My In a Roundabout Way Earrings were featured in the Wedding Category of the Gift Guide. The items in the Gift Guide are handpicked and "curated" by Etsy staff.

On June 1, the Summer 2008 issue of Venus Zine hit the stands. Jennifer Gardner Designs was featured in a Co-op Ad along with other Etsy sellers. The Serenity necklace was featured in this advertisement, which can be found on page 76.

....still Friday! :)

Okay...so I had to write a little more...out and about town, I took a few more pictures.....

By the way, I took all of these with the camera on my cell phone, so they aren't the best quality! :)

I'm a strong believer in Karma...so normally, I wouldn't take a picture of someones car, or poke fun at anyone, but I couldn't resist this one...

Yes, someone was actually driving it...it was in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Gastonia. ...note the boat and fishing rods sticking out of the back....the boat has a huge sticker down the side of it that says "Gone Fishing."

About 2 weeks ago, we had to go downtown to the court house, to file the 90-day inventory papers for my grandma's estate. I took these while I was there...

This is the focal point of the atrium....it is a kinetic sculpture created by Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter, called Persistence of Vision. It is actually 3200 pewter heads, that are hanging on cables...the move to create different profiles that are supposed to reflect the "demographic of Mecklenburg County."

...and then the hand, called "Integrity," is one of my favorites! ...by Hoss Haley...it's about 8 feet tall! :) I just wanted to go over and sit in it! :) LOL

Anyway...that's all for today! :)

XOXO

Friday Evening Post...

Wow...I can't believe a month has passed since I last posted. So, what have I been up to? Not much actually...I have been busy, but mostly with non-jewelry related stuff! :) The last 2 weeks, I have been playing handyman...or handywoman! This week has consisted of yard work(which may not seem like a lot, and I certainly don't mind doing it, but it takes 2 1/2 hours to cut JUST the front yard...on a riding lawnmower! I listen to audio books while I'm cutting grass! ...needless to say, I make it through quite a few books by the end of summer! LOL)....I also got to play locksmith, plumber, ...hmmm what else! LOL :) ....what is it they say??? ...jack of all trades, master of none! :) LOL I guess it is a good thing I was daddy's little girl and his shadow...I learned quite a lot about home maintenance and repair! LOL :) I know that isn't too glamorous, but at least I don't have to pay someone to fix the problems! ;)


I got the first picture from my aunt the other day....her and my cousin are in Europe...they have been there for a couple of weeks. They started in Paris...they have been to Monaco, Nice, Marseilles, Pisa, Florence (I think???)...today they are in Venice...Murano, actually. I think they have visited a few more places...like Cannes??? My aunt really wanted to go to Cinque Terra. I'm not sure if they did though. They are coming home Thursday. Their last stop is Rome. Then Friday, are all going to the beach! YAY!!! :) I think one of my uncles, Robert is staying here...he's out of town now. Anyway, this is the picture she sent me from Nice, France. This shot is off the balcony of their hotel room.





Anyway, I have made a few new pieces of jewelry. I actually listed a few pieces on Etsy today. I love making the jewelry, but I hate taking pictures of it!!! So, I have stuff laying around everywhere! :) Maybe it is because my pictures suck! ...but, I'm going to take more pictures of more pieces later. I guess :P ---LOL

These are two of the new pairs of earrings I finally took pictures of! :)

The Spring issue of Craft Magazine is out...I can't wait to see it... I bought a spot the the Etsy-Coop ad thing....I actually stumbled onto a link with ad...it wasn't supposed to me online, but it is! :) It is a 2-page spread in the magazine. I took a screen shot of it! That's mine...bottom row, 2nd from the left! :)

I had my first sale from the Stylebakery.com "Designers on the Rise" ad this week. Yay! :)

The Wire Artisans Guild had their grand opening for our Etsy shop in April. The pieces we made for the Earth Day Project..."Au Naturale," were the first pieces to be added to the shop. Two pieces have sold! :) I ended up changing the name of mine to "My Fair Lady." ;)

Oh yeah, I voted for the 1st time, May 2nd, in the Presidential Primary. I know, I'm terrible...31 and never voted. I was so excited, I even got a sticker! :) LMAO

Earth Day Challenge....

The Wire Artisans Guild had a Earth Day theme challenge due Tuesday. The theme for this project was "Au Naturale." For my piece, I created a asymmetrical necklace. I decided to name it "Au Naturale." .............really creative, right? LOL :) It is made of sterling wire and chain, and has flowers made of moonstone briolettes. The centers of the flowers and "sprigs" are made of freshwater cultured pearls.





These pieces (our Earth Day pieces) will be the first ones to be added to our team store on Etsy. Our team store WireArtisansGuild, is officially opening on April 22, 2008!


I can't wait to see the other members designs for the project!