This weekend Bob was out of town -- he got two days off in a row and drove down to the lake to spend a couple of days fishing with his friends.
So I did something I've been wanting to do for a long time: I made jewelry. It's something I've always been interested in, but I had never tried it because I was afraid I wouldn't be any good at it. But I finally realized that if I never tried, I'd never know, so I did the the circuit of the local craft stores--Joann, Michael's, Hobby Lobby--and looked at absolutely everything.
What I really wanted to buy was sterling silver wire and pins, and real stone beads, but I was smart and bought a bunch of inexpensive stuff to practice on, because I knew I wouldn't get it right the first time. I only ruined about half a dozen pins, I think, before I got the hang of turning them. They still aren't perfect--far from it--but at least now I know I can do it, and I'll get better with practice.
They're not really my style, more "dressy" than I normally wear, so I put them up in my Etsy shop. That still feels kind of weird, but I sold a couple of sets of stitch markers, which felt really good, so I figured, why not? It's interesting--I make a living making things--websites--but I think this is the first time I've ever sold anything physical that I made with my hands. It feels different. Nice.
3 comments:
I like them all and I would wear them. Nice Job! Valerie
They're beautiful and fun. Do you have a handmade bead shop in your area? I bet you do. It'd probably be lots of fun to visit one when you're exploring jewelry-making. Through a class here in Atlanta I found a local business just for people who craft jewelry, and it was so neat! You could go in, stand at the counter and request a basket of stones to dump out and examine. The stones ranged from around a dollar on up and you could add them to your creations. I still have a few loose ones I haven't figured out what to do with yet, but maybe your work will inspire! I'm off to check out your Etsy shop now.
There used to be a bead shop here -- Nomadic Notions -- that was wonderful. I went to what I thought was there new(ish) location a couple of weeks ago, and it was completely different, and very disappointing. Nothing really interesting there at all. I do need to look around and see if there's anyplace else comparable.
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