Etsy Finds: Expedited Shipping for Last Minute Shoppers

I'm happy that I was featured in the daily Etsy Finds e-mail for Expedited Christmas Shipping yesterday. I'm running a 10% off sale in my shop and shipping is FREE to US buyers! So take a peek at the article! I can ship through Thursday the 18th for Christmas orders.

Just mention "CHRISTMAS" in the message to seller for the discounts and wait for a revised invoice! Happy Holidays!!!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-expedited-shipping-for-last-minute-shoppers-3073/#comment-51304

Feathers and Such...

Recently I have been experimenting with feathers. Feathers in necklace designs, feathers in hair clips, and on cuffs. I have always loved feathers, especially the wispy white ones that look beautiful in the shabby chic style for the home. I have an all white feather wreath that I purchased a few years ago during the Christmas season. I know it is technically for the holidays, but not at my house! It has been hanging in the same spot for a while now, and happily employed as a fulltime resident. I have also started a small collection of white Christmas birds with real feather tails. Most of these collections are not new, but sweet vintage reproductions. The latest however is an antique mercury glass swan with real feathers. She was purchased for a song at a local antique store. She has found herself a nest in a pile of black velvet roses and seems to be comfortable there. So, for the time being, expect to see a few feathery be-jeweled pieces floating around in my Etsy shop and stay tuned for cuffs! I just can't help myself! I have always been fascinated by them. In the mean time, enjoy 20% off of all my fall jewelry pieces. Look for "SALE" in the title of the item and you will get an additional 20% off after purchasing. See my notes on Etsy for instructions. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Let us not forget to be thankful for all things good!

Nest ~ Changing the world one purchase at a time.

I have some exciting news to share with you! I am participating in a new online shopping venue! It is called Build a Nest. Nest is a non-profit organization based out of Saint Louis, MO, that is dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries. The mission of Nest is to support women artists and artisans in the developing world by helping them create sustainable entrepreneurial businesses. To do this, Nest provides micro-credit loans to be used for the purchase of the supplies and materials necessary to begin and/or maintain art or craft-based businesses. "Everyone needs beauty as well as bread." (John Muir)

I have listed four necklaces for sale on the Nest website. I will be donating 30% of my sales to Nest to essentially help fund the micro loans that they issue to women in developing coutries.

A direct link to my Nest page can be found on my website: http://novemberrose.net/

To watch an interview with Nest founder Rebecca Kousky and KSDK STL News Station, and learn more about how the business works, click on the link below and go to the Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 blog post.
http://nest-buildanest.blogspot.com/

I am so excited and honored to be a part of Nest and their wonderful business of essentially helping the needy survive by their own means!!!

These Crazy Busy Days of Summer Turn to Fall

What a perfect Saturday for dreaming and creating lovely jewelry! We are enjoying the after-effects of Hurricane Ike - constant gentle rain. The rains are therapeutic after a busy week.

It seems that all of my weeks are busy these days, which ultimately made for a busy summer with friends and family pouring in from out of state. However, we are always glad for their visits!

Just a bit of fun info to bring you up to date...

I am pleased to say that my jewelry is now being carried at Mezzanine in Saint Louis, MO. Mezzanine is a lovely shop in Central West End. One can't go wrong when surrounded with fine dining, lovely architecture, and friendly people! http://shopmezzanine.com/

Also this summer, I designed a custom bridal order for a bride in Finland. She was lovely to work with and allot of fun! See the necklace at left, "Love Me Only" from the Labyrinth Collection. Seven unique golden tangled chains sweep from the right side to the left where they are layered and joined to a large metal five leaf cut-out design.

Most recently I have been designing and getting ready for a fall show - Cider Days on Historic Walnut Street in Springfield, Missouri. I have one week left to create before the show as it is the 20th and 21st. I am praying for cool non-rainy weather which makes for a beautiful ushering in of fall. See below for a sneak peek of some of the necklaces that I have been working on for the show.

"Physiognomy" ~ Large Spider with glass cherry red body. Inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem.

"A spider sewed at night
Without a light
Upon an arc of white.
If ruff it was of dame
Or shroud of gnome,
Himself, himself inform.
Of immortality
His strategy
Was physiognomy"

"Gypsy Grace" ~ Twisted, tangled chain bracelet. Many chains dotted with gold and peacock blue beads.

Inspired by "The Hollyhocks" by Craven Langstroth Betts.

"Some space beyond the garden close

I sauntered down the shadowed lawn;

It was the hour when sluggards doze,

The cheerful, zephyr-breathing dawn.

The sun had not yet bathed his face,

Dark reddened from the nightʼs carouse,

When, lo! in festive gypsy grace

The hollyhocks stood nodding brows..."


I have designed many other pieces that will be debuted at this show. Hope to see you there!

A Stylish Affair - to remember

Today is a happy day for me. I got my first Treasury on Etsy where I sell my wares. They have proven to be hard to get. This Treasury will expire this Friday, the 11th of July at 1:34 AM, until then you can view it at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=55241

Renewal

What a delightfully delicious, rainy Saturday! It is as dark as evening time and not even noon. It is not the vicious sort of rainstorm that sends darting glances towards the heavens and thoughts of dashing to the basement. It is the happy therapeutic sort of storm with thunder in surround sound. This always sends me to the porch where I take refuge in the swing. Here I can soak in the sounds of pouring rain and watch birds flit from tree to tree, happily singing their gratitude for a cool bath. When the breeze kicks up and sends a mist through the screens, I close my eyes and let the newness that a rain brings wash over me. This renews my mind and spirit.

Dear Blog -

I have thought about meeting you for quite some time now. The time is finally right. I look forward to our days ahead as I pour out my thoughts onto your virtual pages.

Everyone says that this is my little chance to tell the world what I want to tell it. I'm not quite sure the world wants to know what I have jumping around in my head, or that my fingers could even type it all! We will give it our best shot though. (My fingers, my thoughts, and I.)

Goodnight Blog.
Goodnight World.