OMG...it's tooooo HOT!!!

Sometimes it just isn't much fun living in the South...like during the steaming hot, humid summer when the heat index reaches, oh, about 104...and you have a farmer's market to attend!!!!!

Our 1st Clinton Olde Towne Market of the season was last Saturday and it was possibly the HOTTEST day of the Summer so far! Even in the shade with a tent and a fan, I don't think it was any better than sitting out in the sun! lol!

Although the shopping crowd was not as large as expected (some folks are smart enough to stay in the a/c!) it was a good day. There were about 70 vendors and some really great stuff! My 14 yr old son, Daley, helped me at my booth and tried to give away my jewelry to pretty girls (ha ha!) and my Mom and my little girl, Carrie Liz, came to visit me. I also made a trade with another vendor for some really cool flattened wine bottles, one of which is now the spoon rest on top of my stove. I met so many nice people and enjoyed myself, even though it was a relief to be done for the day and back in the cool indoors! :)

Guitar Picks Custom-Made for Benjy Davis of Benjy Davis Project

One of my most FAVORITE bands EVER is Benjy Davis Project, from my home state of Louisiana. And you probably already know that I make handcrafted sterling silver guitar picks...they are probably my biggest seller on Etsy. So, I contacted lead singer and guitar genius, the adorable Benjy Davis, and asked if I could make and send him a personalized guitar pick. He said he'd be "honored" to have one of my picks, and since he was so sweet, I sent him two. Here they are:

Lost Souls Like Us is the name of their newest album...go check them out on Facebook or their website...and you can always look them up on iTunes! I promise you, every one of their albums it totally worth buying...and go out to one of their shows if you get a chance! This is the music that speaks to my soul and inspires my creativity...it's what I listen to in my studio when I'm working. Go check 'em out!!!

PS-Mic Capdeville is the drummer for BDP and he is fabulous also...if I ever take up a new craft making drumsticks, I promise to send you some, Mic! lol!

The Pantone Fall 2010 Fashion Color Report Is Now In!

Lagoon, Lipstick Red, Oyster Grey, Endive, Chocolate Truffle.....GORGEOUS!!!!!!

See the full report here.....

http://www.pantone.com/images/pages/20710/2010-02/index.html

Been a while...lots to say!

It's been a little while since my last post...my crazy life took over for a while, but I will try to do better!

I have worked on so much new stuff since I last posted here. It's kinda funny seeing my old posts, because I have learned so much since then. I guess that is part of learning...growing and changing. I have taught myself some new metalsmithing skills that I have been practicing and I feel like I have done pretty good for being self-taught.

Here are some recent photos of my work.....

Happy January!

Hey everyone...hope you're having a great 2010 so far! Hope the holidays were great for everyone also!
The holidays were just awesome for me because I was BUSY, BUSY! Busier than I ever dreamed of being with jewelry orders! It got to the point of craziness and I have needed some time to recoup and catch up on all the other things that needed to be done around here...like REST! lol!
I have to admit I was a little burned out once the holidays were over, but now I'm back to creating and looking forward to Spring. I've been working on some new designs and it seems that my jewelry is taking on a more bohemian/gypsyish look. It isn't what I intended...I was just creating what has been in my head. Seems like my true style shows through better when I am creating because I WANT to, not because I have orders to send out or because I need a certain number of pieces for a show. It's just more fun this way and it's what I enjoy.
I'm going to have to take some pics to show you what I'm talking about, but it has a very vintage feel...lots of aged brass, copper, old keys, vintage lace and linens, etc.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week! It's good to be back in blog-world!

Will the rain ever go away??

It has been raining so much here lately and I'm going stir crazy being stuck in the house with kids all day! I have managed to accomplish a few things though. I did get some new jewelry made and I'm trying to make a couple of new things everyday to stock up for the holidays. I've mostly been making soldered pendants, since I haven't made any in a while and they sell well. Last week I took all the jewelry I've made the last couple of months outside and took pictures of everything. I'm slowly getting it all listed in my Etsy shop...it's just so time consuming! Anyway, here are a few pics of the soldered pendants I made from a vintage doily that had crochet around the edges. The center was very worn and barely holding together, so I wanted to do something with the beautiful crochet lace edges. I really like how they turned out and I plan to make more soon.

Do you love vintage?? I LOVE VINTAGE!

I have found myself drawn to vintage home accessories lately. Seems like every time I am on Etsy, I inadvertently end up searching the vintage category. Mainly mid-century modern type stuff. I've also been doing some "thrifting" around town...bought some FAB orange Tupperware last week! What type of vintage things are you drawn to?? Here are a few of my favorite vintage pieces.....

Fire King Milk Glass from my Granny and my great aunt, Madeline.

Super cool retro-atomic starburst pattern dishes (Pontesa Ironstone from Spain) that belonged to my favorite great-aunt...I have 8 full place settings and several extra pieces! LOVE these, and I refuse to use them until my kids are grown and out of the house!

Cute starburst glasses that also belonged to my great aunt. I'm kinda sad that I only have 5. I'm sure at one time, there were at least 8.



















And, last but definitely not least, my beloved Tupperware! The big round divided tray was given to me by my Granny...I can remember her using it to take lunch to my Papaw when he was out picking cotton. The cutie-pie little lunchbox, with sandwich/snack containers and cup, was a thrift store find and the largest piece, which has divided, sliding trays inside came from a little vintage/antiques store in town...I'm going to use it to store beads in I think!

I know, I know...

I have been noticeably absent from this blog for the past few months. Sorry. Life happens. But, now that Fall is in the air, I feel refreshed and renewed, this being my favorite time of year, so I'm going to be updating this blog weekly! yay!
I will be giving my readers a glimpse into my studio and my everyday (crazy) life. I would like to share my favorite things with you...whether it's a funny photo of one of my children, or some fabulous vintage home accessories I found online. Oh, and there will be jewelry...lots of jewelry!
I have several Fall/Holiday shows coming up, so there are lots of new goodies in the works!
Ok, now let me go and find something bloggable.....I'll be back soon!!!

Main Street Market

I have been a jewelry making machine this week! I'm getting ready for Main Street Market, here in Clinton, MS, this Saturday on the brick streets in Olde Towne, from 8-12. I am soooo hoping we have lots of visitors and no rain, but a cool breeze would sure be nice!
I've made so much new stuff this week, and whatever doesn't sell at the market (I hope it ALL sells!) I will take pics of next week and start listing it in my shop.
I will be also have a booth at Main Street Market on the 27th. If any of you are in town one of those days, please stop by and say hello. There will be so many great vendors there and I'm sure you would enjoy walking around and looking at everything. We have some very talented people here in Clinton!
Well, back to my workbench I go! I'll give an update from the market with pictures next week. :)

Happy Summer!

I have been sooo super busy the past few months and have let this blog fall by the wayside, but I'm finally getting everything caught up and back on track now! (My life gets a little crazy sometimes, lol!)

Anyway, I have been working on lots of new things, so I will try to post some pics on here of jewelry I will be listing in my shop soon, along with other things and people that inspire me.

I'm having fun being home with my kids this Summer, though I do miss my "me time". I just have to wait till they go to bed at night, then hope not to wake them up with hammering and the sound of the Dremel!

Once a year, on Memorial Day weekend, my Mom's family gets together at the lake where she lives for the "annual family camp out"...When it started 10 years ago, there was actual camping in tents and now it's mostly everyone crashing in my Mom and step-Dad's nearly finished house. But we still call it the "camp out", lol. The weather was a little rainy and cloudy this year, but we still had fun. The lake was beautiful as always and we enjoyed being there and visiting with everyone.

So, just wanted to include a little of what is going on in my world so far this Summer. Hope everyone else is having a fun and safe Summer break!

Hey Ya'll!

Yeah, apparently the mobile blogging didn't help me out much with my posting! Sorry...I've been kinda busy lately...trying to finish up the semester and get ready for the upcoming summer markets. Since I will be done with school after next week, I will be working on lots and lots of new jewelry to build up some inventory. I can't wait to have the time to sit down and create instead of study! Have a good weekend everyone!

Hmmm. . .mobile blogging? I just had to try this! Maybe it will help me to updatde my blog more often!

Etsy Gift Guides

I just accidentally found out that I'm in another gift guide on Etsy. They must have just created the "Graduations" Gift Guide, and my little sterling square monogrammed necklace and earring set is in it. Yay!
I have to say I was a little shocked, because I'm still in a gift guide I was chosen for a while back, the Personalized Gift Guide, which is one of the "Hot Lists". My sterling anniversary necklace is in that one.
I can't really say whether being in the Gift Guides has brought me more sales or not, but nevertheless, it is nice to be recognized. The Gift Guide items are chosen by the Etsy staff. Boy, someone on the Etsy staff must really like me! lol!

Visit this FABULOUS shop!!!

Purple Lemon Designs' shop on Etsy is the place to go for all your stationary needs!!! Kelly, of PLD, and I "met" online several months ago through our regional Etsy street team, Team Etsy Mississippi. She is based in Corinth and is just a super sweet gal. She ordered a necklace from me a while back, then I ordered a return address stamp from her to use when sending out my Christmas cards. Then, a couple of weeks ago, she was in dire need of a sterling silver guitar pick, and I was in dire need of some business stationary, so we arranged a trade! I am sooo happy with her custom graphic design services...she did an awesome job on my stationary (she personalized it to match my shop!)! Not that I was surprised...the stamp I ordered from her was fabulous as well...I use it almost every time I mail something and have gotten many compliments on it.

So, I just wanted to give her a little "plug" and let ya'll know how creative and sweet she is and where you can find her wonderful stamps, stationary, and such. Check out her shop at http://www.purplelemondesigns.etsy.com/ and have a look at all her fabulous stuff!!!

Happy Spring!

It's finally Spring and I have been slowly, but surely, listing new jewelry in my shop. I have been experimenting and trying to make some "different" things than what I normally make. I will still be stamping, and actually have some new stamped jewelry to show you soon, but I just wanted to make some fun, colorful jewelry with some of the new beads I ordered recently. Here are some pictures of a necklace and earrings that can be found in my shop..."Orange Slices":

I Made the Front Page of Etsy!!!

YAYYY!!!!!

One of my hand stamped sterling silver guitar picks made the front page of Etsy this afternoon...then it sold almost immediately! Plus another one right after that!

That made my day! Who says Friday the 13th is bad luck?!

Because I totally missed it...thanks to my friend, Lori, aka: cozycabinmom, for letting me know!!!

Here is the screen shot:

Spring Cleaning!

Hey everyone! I have decided to do some Spring cleaning, so I wiped out all my old blog posts to make a fresh start. While I was deleting...it really dawned on me how much my jewelry has changed, for the better, since I first started making it. I guess in learning new techniques and skills, I have upgraded my style a little.

Anyway...I am going to try to keep up with this blog a little better from now on. Hopefully I will have the time to add pictures of new jewelry as I make it and list it for sale. Also, you can always visit my Etsy shop HERE to see what I have been working on. My shop will be part of this Spring cleaning process also, so be sure to visit...I feel a sale coming on!

Here are a few pics of things I've made lately...

My new ad...

A few pieces...

...of jewelry. Just because I feel like I need to post something!


All are hand stamped sterling silver and can be found in my shop at andreaevansdesign.etsy.com