New Pretties

I took a wee bit of time off and have been working slower this week, but still working. I took about 300+ pics this week and am working on editing them down. I updated the website with 12 new pretties including these Paris at Night earrings, and put some things in Etsy. I also did some relists over there too. I am thinking about opening another shop for just the destash/supplies and keeping the main one for jewelry one off's, sales, etc....I will think about that later.

I did a book review about Katie Hacker's "Hip to Bead" over on Craft Gossip. I'll be giving a way a copy of the book too, and will post details next week.

I also opened a Facebook account for my business. I didn't know they had that option available, but since its another way to market yourself-I figured why not?

Just in time for Fathers Day

I put this manly steampunk necklace up on Etsy last night, I hope it sells otherwise I will feel compelled to keep it for myself!

I'm finishing up the massive pile of half done projects on my table, so expect to see lots more pics on here. I have so many things I've started to put together but didn't have this or that or anything that worked with it, so it gets pushed to the side and I start something else. I swear I probably start 5 things a day but only finish one...Its the way I work, things have to 'click'. When I stopped doing just pretty jewelry to jewelry with meaning, it takes alot longer for it to 'cook'. I have to see who goes with what and what make sense to the piece, and does this shade of aqua go better than this one, etc..... all my parts need to talk to me and each other.

Anyway-I'm cleaning up and finishing up for a few reasons-1: to clean off the table top. 2: Partly for Renegade SF & and ZNE vendor show and 3: because
Rob and I got our plane tickets to the UK on Friday...Let me just say that it was multiple thousand dollars and its not firstclass...Plane fares are going up at scarily fast rates and the dollar keeps sinking. We want to have a good time on the trip, not pennypinching every step of the way-so I need to work doubletime and make some trip funds.

I made another Treasury!!!

I don't know why getting in one tickles me so much...I guess I'm tired of seeing the SAME people in EVER ONE....I want to see other peoples stuff!

Here's a pic of yesterdays worktable chaos.

NOTHING I did yesterday went easy or well...just one of those days. I fuddled around for hours-couldn't find anything that went together, couldn't find stuff, kept dropping things, etc...... And the PMS started to set in, so I was getting crankier by the minute-not a good combo. But no worries-today is MUCH better!

Today, I am focused on completing some of the computer work I dislike but NEED to do, by reading Alyson's post on Art Biz Coach about working on the website last night. I am going to be somewhat attached to my computer today and get the work done that I dread doing-resizing pics and updating etsy, ebay and my website. I'll do my Craft Gossip posts later if I can stand to be on here after I get the bulk of the drudge work done. But I may have to do them tomorrow if necessary.

I need to send a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY Greeting out to my minion Jessica,
and Linda from the Yarn Museum and Thomas Wynn too-Happy Birthday kids!!! I hope you guys are having wonderful birthdays.

I don't want to get all morose and teary eyed on here, I've been on the go since 7am trying to keep busy rather than cry. That has been working relatively well-except for when people call to ask about Pan, then I lose it again when I have to talk.

I'm updating my Etsy shop and having sales on alot of stuff in there. I want it to go, and we have over $5000 in Vet Bills from Neph's surgery last month and now this, so the $$$ would be nice too.

Also, if you haven't signed up for the newsletter, NOW would be a good time to do it. I'm going to send one out next week and there WILL be a goodsized coupon in it.

Well 2008 is off to a cracking start! I've been making my daily to do list and that is REALLY helping me be productive and feel accomplished. I've updated the website TWICE this past week! go me!!!

I've been working on my list of goals/intentions for 2008. I find breaking it down into catagories like Health/Business/Art/Home/Personal really helps. Its too daunting for me to try and write them without breaking it down. I'm also making lists of things I need to have/do to get more organized and of supplies need to get more organized.

I've made a number of jewelry sales this past week YAY! And I'm on the exercycle every morning riding my 5 1/2 miles a day. Why 5 1/2 miles you ask? Well, I tend to bike at 5 miles in 18 mins so I just go for 20 mins. Its a slow start because I don't want to throw myself back into a fibromylagia state and with the damp weather, my legs and heelspurs/plantar fasciiatis has been pretty painful. So I'll eventually work up to doing an hour but I'm not going to push myself right now.

My main focus right now is figuring out how to rearrange the living space. I'm torn between buying some Elna Shelving system (on sale right now at the Container store) and putting that under the stairs OR using the multitude of cabinets and stuff I currently have and putting the $150 I'd use on the Elna into the savings account to get a washer dryer combo. I want a washer/dryer, for convenience sake -but having a streamlined and all one style shelving unit would be nice too. I need to figure out which is a bigger priority to me right now.

I'm also getting rid of stuff-seems like that has been a constant thread in my life in the last 2 yrs-declutter declutter declutter. I'm putting stuff on Ebay and Etsy. I am preferring Ebay because I want it GONE, stuff sits too long on Etsy. I NEED this little ol fireplace and this electric spinning wheel to find a new homes asap too so I can move stuff around.

I just ordered a ton of supplies to make more Wanderlust Necklaces. Hope they get here soon. Its been so grey out, I think I want to clear space and do some enameling. I won't mind the room being 100 degrees when its only 45 degrees outside.

My friend Leilania posted on her blog yesterday about personal symbology. I find it interesting what we all use in our artwork, so I'm going to do a post just on that next.

I've put up this sweet Raven ring in my Etsy shop today. Its a prototype, and I'd like to do more, but not sure if/when I will. They are in vintage ring bases that I have, so there will be a limited number of them. I also put up an Art Purse I did with a vintage Barbie image on it-cute!

I'm on a kick to clear stuff OUT right now. There are a couple of reasons for this-one is: I need to get a new camera. My Nikon is a fine little travel camera, but I'm finding out it isn't good for taking good closeup pics of jewelry...sigh...I've been lusting after a Canon Rebel for over a year now, and more and more people I know have them and love them. The price has dropped quite a bit, and its the camera I want to get. Just need to make the $$$ for it!

And reason #2 is: I've decided to completely re-arrange our living set up. But in order to do that, I know that I"m going to have to get rid of at least 33% of stuff in my work room and probably 50%

Thats hard for an artstuff hoarder-I might NEED those broken eggshells SOME DAY!!!

Truth is, I have been yearning for a streamlined, cleaner, organized space where I can FIND anything I want to use for a while now. Even though I have stuff organized, I have so much, I often can't find things. I need to get real with all the stuff I DON'T use and let it go to someone who will use it. Do I need this pasta machine and motor when I don't do polymer clay anymore?? do I need the clay? Do I need all this metal/bits of wood/stuff when I'm not doing any art right now?? I think I'd be happer with LESS stuff that I'll use, than all this stuff sitting here not being used but making me feel chaotic.



I want to move my work stuff out to the front area where the kitchen/living area is now. Its really cramped as a living room, but WHEN I cull my stuff down, I think it will make a great workarea/studio. AND I'll be able to invite people over for open studio and to have craft party time.

The main reasons for this are that the current set up works but doesnt' feel right, and I REALLY need a bedroom with a door...Love my cats but dear lord they are BAD at night. I need to lock them out so I can sleep without Puddin' draping herself on my pillow or Nef waking me up by clawing my face, or Silver walking over me back and forth back and forth... And I feel a bit overwhelmed by all this STUFF in my room. I can't feel productive in here.

So-I'm going thru stuff now in addition to creating, marketing, listing, etc..... I KNOW I won't be able to clear out 33% on the first go round, but thats ok. I'll do it 2 or 3 times and get it down. Also, I'll be more aggressive with selling off stuff too, and will be listing more on Etsy and Ebay as well as my own website. I'm also actively looking for retail stores to carry my stuff too. Busy busy but I know if I can get clear on my vision, I can make it happen.

Etsy fun!

I just 'found' the script to do an etsy mini-what fun!

Etsy Update-Flower Earrings

Yes, I'm bad. As some kind of weird avoidance behaviour=I'm updating my Etsy shop! I SHOULD be spinning more yarn or gathering my things for the show, but I'm totally burnt out on show stuff-and just want to sew and make jewelry. Anything NON fiber related.

I've added a few pairs of some delicate Sterling wire and vintage glass flower bead earrings. They are sweet-click the pic to go directly to Etsy.

Etsy Update

I haven't listed anything on Etsy in FOREVER. So since my bank account is getting REALLY low I decided to do some stuff today.

Have a look HERE for these sweet vintage inspired art prints. I got a Gocco machine but find I do much better using a squeegee so I"m screenprinting like crazy! These are on vintage and antique book pages and look great matted and framed. There are a couple of others up too and more to come!

so busy....

I'm neglecting my poor journal!!! Once I get this book submission stuff out of the way, and do the table layout for our venue=I'll be ALOT better!

So to keep this blog fresh and readable-here are some pics of resin jewelry I've made, photographed but still need to put on the website.

I put a couple of things up on my etsy shop, so go have a lookie there too!

Hello from the Frozen Tundra

What a weekend=it was so cold on Saturday, I had on my winter coat and a scarf! It was foggy and misty all day and never warmed up. Yesterday=sunnier but super windy.I swear we have got to be the coldest spot in the nation. Today, sunny but a harsh winter wind is blowing thru.

Right now it is 69 degrees out but the wind 15mph and has to be about 55 degrees! BRRR!!! I'll try to direct all this cool wind over to you people broiling in the rest of the country-especially D.C./Baltimore areas!

I spent the majority of my day, editing photos and adding stuff to my etsy shop and website. So if you were interested in any of the last batch of jewelry-look on both sites. I have GOT to work on some book submissions this week-been putting it off for way to long, and also looking for more call for arts. I get so wrapped up in other things, I don't accomplish what I really want. I'm re-setting my goals and my time management behaviours so that I don't let any more opportunities "fall thru the cracks". I need to learn better time management skills, that is for sure!

On Saturday, I sat with Jessica who was vending at the DAI show. Also another SFCM member- Andrea was there as well but she was in another room. Sadly-it wasn't a very good show for either of them or most of the vendors=lots of traffic but no shoppers. I have sworn off doing shows because of stuff like that.You just never know if you will make money, break even or even make just the table fee back. Too much stress for me, makes you really depressed and you question why no one is buying your stuff. This show-no one was buying anyone's stuff but doesn't help much-you still feel bad and question yourself. Not fun! But its over, and all you can do is chalk it up to a bad day and move forward.

One bright spot in the day is we were next to an AMAZING chocolatier! Edible Love is hand made truffles made in small batches, from organic ingredients and only sold at trunk shows in Oakland, Berkely and San Francisco. I sampled all the nice girl had set out and my fave has got to be the Vanilla Rose Truffle. ABSOLUTELY delicious. Not cheap-but quality never is. Go to the website and sign up for their mailing list so you can know where to get your next fix from.

I've just joined the Etsy Trashion Team. Whats trashion you ask?
"Trashion is a philosophy and an ethic. It encompasses environmentalism and innovation, and respects the human creative and healing potential. Making traditional objects out of recycled or upcycled materials can be trashion. Making avant-garde fashion out of cast-offs or junk can be trashion."

Should be fun! Please check out the Etsy Trashion Street Team Shop and the blog here.

Friday always seems to sneak up on me but I've been alot more productive this week. My worktable is almost clean. Its clean in my opinion of organized chaos, but almost clean in a normal persons view. I got a couple of necklaces done and that makes me very happy.


Both are on the website:






The first is titled: Down Mexico Way, the second is "Hold dear". Both incorporate items I've created as well as found objects. I am very pleased with both of them.



I am always amazed how the process of intuition and creativity work within me when I create-and its not something I can really put into words. I don't sketch out stuff generally, sometimes occasionally-but usually the end product is very different then the original sketch/idea. I have to 'feel' each piece and see what it is attracted too. This is why it takes me a while to make things-they have to speak not only to me, but to other pieces until the entire story is told. I had originally pulled out a pile of materials to make a black widow themed necklace-yet these 2 necklaces were what was created. And the spider necklace is still in bits on the table-unborn, still fermenting, growing and waiting for just the right elements to complete it.



I've also got 4 yarns up on the website and the lightning bug one is my favorite. My friend Jamie gave me a bag of green fiber that didn't turn out how she liked. I loved it immediately and when I got home, I said "what do you want to be?" and put it down on a pile of other fiber. Immediately I noticed it next to some black and thought "lightning bugs" (or fireflys depending on what part of the country you are from). And so I went to work, making the bug yarn. It is plied with a glow in the dark thread, so it will glow, just a tiny bit!

also-the San Francisco Craft Mafia has put up an Etsy Shop and a Cafe Press store. All proceeds from both shops go to our general fund which pays for our website, advertising, copying, postcards, supplies, etc...

I forgot to blog about the website update yesterday!


3 yarns on the website and 2 fiber batts on Etsy.





My fave yarn this week is "Lipstick on your Collar" 123 yards of 'you're busted!' yarn fun!

More listing!

I'm very slowly getting back into "work" mode. I've been pretty lazy all week!

I did make a sample scarf. So many people want to see the yarn made into something. I've been bad about doing it because I'm not really a knitter or crocheter but more of a yarn hoarder LOL. But I have made things for other people and have only one necklet to show people, so I did need some more examples. Also=I want to create a customer gallery, so if you've made something marvelous from my yarn-please send me some pics!!!

Yesterday, Jessica and I went out to Capsule Fair. Some people we knew were vending so we went to check out all 140 vendors. It was really cold & foggy and I only had on a sweater and a scarf I made. I assumed it would burn off by Noon like it has the past few days-but now...I froze LOL.

We are both glad we checked it out and glad we didn't apply. It was mostly t-shirt vendors, jewelry artists and handbag makers with a few plushie people thrown in. I felt bad for the vendors with so much competition. I think some diversity in the vendor group would have helped everyone sales.

After an hour 1/2, I was too lethargic to do anything. So I came home, had lunch of a Lean Cuisine and a bagel and promptly fell asleep for 4 hours. Too many carbs!!!

After I woke up, I worked on pics and listed 8 resin pieces on etsy. All pretty retro looking birdies and skulls. I wish Etsy would streamline the listing and allow you to "sell a similiar item" so you can bypass repetitive steps. A dream for the future! Anyway-I've also put up some new stuff I'm working on-Belt Buckles. Check them out!

Etsy Happenings & fiber love

I've updated my etsy store with a few pieces of jewelry-including some unusual cocoon necklaces!

And-The San Francisco Craft Mafia has created an etsy shop too-only 2 of my creations are in there right now, but we are hoping to plump up the inventory soon. All proceeds of that Etsy store go directly into the SFCM general fund. Our general fund is used for maintaining our website, financing shows, advertising, etc.... So buy purchasing thru the Etsy shop, you help us keep our group going and building DIY community in the SF Bay area!

I've been spinning too....but need to build some stock for the upcoming Bizaare Bazaar and not sure if I will update my website or not this week!

I also got some fiber love last week, I need to acknowledge! The first is a Worms & Lettuce yarn from a Spin me a Treasure angel-Flore. I LOVE IT!! so fun!

And I also got some Sparklebatts from MaryJanes Attic. I can't tell you how much I love getting these from Jamie. So go buy some!!!! Aren't these pretty!

Hey everyone,
My craftmafia sister Jessica of Future Momo, has just started a blog about her jewelry business. Please add her to your links, and visit her website.

She also has an Etsy site of her gorgeous creations, check that out too!

Speaking of Etsy, I'll be updating later today too with some 'seconds' jewelry, a small shrine and maybe some fibery stuff. The jewelry is things that have a little imperfection or just not what I wanted. So you get some good stuff at a good price! I've also put some stuff on sale on there too.

New Spinning Fibers!

I actually got some work done today!! not much, I STILL don't know where my day went. I couldn't wake up until 10 am (10 hours of sleep!) and its 9pm and I can't say I accomplished much of anything!

I've got one batt and a few bits of dyed roving up on Etsy right now..however theyare done until midnight 1/23/07 so you'll have to look at them tomorrow. The link= http://barbesaintjohn.etsy.com/

But here are some pics-the first is 'Rainbow', the second 'Tender Heart', and the 3rd is 'Battered & Bruised'

Clean, straighten up, dishes, sweep, put away, clean clean..I feel like its neverending..not really cleaning, but moving stuff around.. I have OTHER things I want to do, but the constant making room to create is a real downer.

I have some pretty spinning batts up on ETSY=go look and buy, please! I'm in SERIOUS de-stash mode, and need more room for stuff I DO use! I will also be listing 3 lots of rubber stamps up on ebay. I go thru them and love them but seriously=after 6 yrs and 90% of them unused...do I REALLY need them???? no, I don't!

oh and another box of fiber JUST arrived!!! and I've no where to put it!! Calgon take me away!!! LOL

fiber for fiber addicts!!!!

Since I LOVE making batts I figured I would share my love with everyone! I've listed 3 sets of batts on Etsy-I'm calling them "Artist Palette Spinning Batts" Like a paint palette covered in bits of beautiful color blobs=my spinning batts have all kinds of prettiness in them!

This one is "Holly Berries" lots of red sparkle the camera couldnt pick up (I MUST get a lighting setup!) I also have up a purple Sugar Plum Fairy batt set and a Silk Road batt sett! Great gifts for a spinner or felter!