Jezabel's Jewels

Happy Labor Day...and all that Jazz ;)

2008-09-01T09:30:00.002-05:00

While I've definitely been demoted to bad, BAD crafter lately...I am quite happy to report that well, I've gone on a bit of a supply buying binge *gulp* So be on the lookout for new goodies (destash-y vintage supplies as well!) to be making their grand debut in the coming weeks...

What else is new? Not all that much...still packing, still moving, still hot as hell here in Chicago! But I have a feeling fall weather is going to sneak up on us, and with a vengeance. And of course, cooler weather inspires all sorts of new things (and my poor sewing machine has been begging and pleading for some attention)...so we'll see where that goes.

Today is the last day of my Etsy Moving Sale...so if you've been eye-ing something, hurry up and make your purchases! I've had a serious itch to re-model my little corner of Etsy...

Happy Labor Day!

Back to Normal Soon...I hope!

2008-08-18T10:56:00.005-05:00

A crazy summer? Um, yeah!

Things have been incredibly hectic this summer...with summer classes, working full time (for our family business, which means full time and then some!), trying to fill special orders for earrings & dolls...yikes!

And then, of course, I'm smack dab in the middle of (what seems like) the longest move in history. The upside to all this? All the jewelry in the shop is on sale once again! Out with the old, right???

BUT, it looks like things may be FINALLY getting back to a somewhat normal state...and soon! And I'm thrilled, cause there are at least a million and five things I want to get done this fall.

I'm looking to completely re-design my little jewelry shop on Etsy...new ideas, new looks, new beads and findings for me to play with (yay!). I'm also trying to re-fill my raggedy doll shop on etsy...I'll have a link when it's filled up again ;)

And then I picked up my crochet hooks again...crafting ADD anyone?

Sooooooooo, I'll be updating again soon. I promise!

semi-productive monday mornings

2008-06-16T10:25:00.005-05:00

Got up early this morning...puttered around in my slippers for a bit, drank some tea, watered my sorta-still-living plants...and listed some new things in the shop!

Damn, I'm good ;P

New earrings are slowly being introduced...

...as well as some new vintage tags (the much-loved vintage brass tags, of course)...

Not bad for a Monday morning :)

Embracing the Inner Lazy.

2008-06-15T19:53:00.004-05:00

Oh, let's see.

I have homework to finish, website work to get done, laundry to do, new earrings to list, bills to pay, some special order owl plushies to get sewn...

But am I going to do any of it tonight?

nah.

Maybe tomorrow ;P

OMG...I didn't kill it!

2008-06-05T10:04:00.006-05:00

In the midst of...well, the craziness that is my life...I tried something that I'm normally horrified of.

I planted flowers.

*gasp*

Yeah, I'm pretty much known as 'black thumb' around here. I kill everything, marigolds included. (and who the hell would think you could kill marigolds? they're like the indestructible tank flower!)

So when I decided to try my hand at little flower pots, everyone held their breath. "Why would you subject innocent little seedlings to that?" my mother asked. And I admit, I was a bit discouraged...

BUT, a friend of mine bought me a little pack of Bachelor's Button seeds...and told me that my little poodle could successfully plant these things. So, I tried...

And look at that...I haven't killed them yet!

I was so very impressed with myself that I got daring and tried Morning Glories.

Impressive, yeah? Yeah, I thought so, too ;P

My Moon Flowers are just starting to come up now...whoddathunkit?!?! Ok, I'm a bit overexcited about my little bit of greenery. I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on their status. (cross your fingers, say a little prayer...hell, light a candle! for my little growing flowers...gotta keep 'em alive!)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Have I mentioned how lazy I am? Or maybe it's just super busy...hmmm. Well anyway, my Spring Sale has been extended (cause I haven't had time to change the prices back to normal, haha)!

So, if you were thinking about doing a bit of shopping and were putting it off, now's the time to purchase those nifty earrings you've been eye-ing!

Jezabel's Jewels

Crazy Crazy Crazy

2008-05-25T20:30:00.004-05:00

I was looking at my shop a few days back...and well, I felt kinda...bored.

Don't get me wrong, I worked really hard to fill my little corner of Etsy up with fun earrings. I love every pair I made...hell, I even stole a couple for myself that didn't sell quick enough! But, well...yeah, there's that boredom thing.

I have new ideas! Different designs I want to try! Colors, shapes, patterns, OH MY! And while I love my old designs...I don't want them to get lost in the shuffle.

Soooooo..........

All the earrings still sitting in my shop are on sale! 20% off til Sunday, June 1st. Everything is all set...the prices are all adjusted...they're waiting for you to go and snatch them up ;)

What are you waiting for? Happy Shopping!

obsession.

2008-05-12T21:33:00.003-05:00

I have a love for crafting. That much is obvious, I would think.

But the question was thrown to me recently...why do you continue creating? And as I stopped to think about my answer, I had to laugh. What was the first thing that popped into my head?

The obsession to buy supplies.

Strands of gemstones...in every color, size & shape. Vintage glass, czech glass, lucite...oh my! Bright & shiny sterling silver, antiqued brass, oxidized copper, gold-filled...oh, where do I begin? Headpins, eyepins, clasps, charms, french hooks, kidney wires...

And that's just for jewelry! We won't even get into the fabric involved in sewing up rag dolls...

So I began the process of replenishing some jewelry supplies today...needless to say, it was an ordeal. Imagine this, if you can (which, if you're a crazy crafter...you probably can!).

I have 'X' amount in my Paypal account and I NEED certain things (earwires, headpins, clasps, etc). All seems to be going well until I sneak a quick look into my favorite vintage bead shop.

Damn.

There goes that 'X' amount. And I still need those supplies...you know, the NECESSARY ones.

*sigh*

And of course, since I already cheated and bought some un-planned beads...well, I may as well purchase a couple of brassy charms I've been eyeing, right?

Double Damn.

So, now I'm broke...but I'll have some really sweet earrings in the shop soon ;P

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T11:45:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to take a moment and say...

Happy Mother's Day!

hell hath no fury...

2008-05-10T19:38:00.005-05:00

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Damn straight.

That's one angry little rag doll! Lovingly created by Pocomedio, over on Etsy. What can I say...she made me laugh! I can relate to that fierce frown today. Go ahead..mess with her ;P

May I Propel You Off a Cliff? No, seriously...?
Nifty lil' magnet...I really think it says it all! All of the goodies over at Allegrae are awesome...like the 'Piss Off' kitty cat...priceless!

Has someone tried to pop your angry little bubble? Grrr & Argh. Emmajb creates some of my favorite felt-y pins...and this little guy warms my irritated little heart ♥

You asked for it, buddy! Ok, you really have to laugh...
Little Axe Girl is super annoyed...and she has an axe. Don't let the pigtails fool you. She's ferocious ;P This gal is on my wish list...perfectly silk-screened by Juror2.

You're a Cock. And not the cool, feathered kind either.
Need I say more? Awesome lil' mini notecards by ScotiaMade. Check 'em out for some hilariously mean material. Absolute perfection ;P

What's better than a soft & cuddly little bunny that loudly proclaims what a moron you are? Um, nothing! Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Thanks Spidercamp!

Haha! Ok, if that didn't cheer me up, nothing will! Leave it to the fine artisians of Etsy to lift my dreary mood...you guys are the best!

Have an awesome weekend...oh, and happy mother's day!

dragonfly

2008-05-05T19:19:00.007-05:00

Dragonflies bring Enlightenment.

They represent the powers of light and transformation, and the ability to see through illusion. They bring prosperity and harmony. The dragonfly, as a totem, teaches skillful action while maintaining a free and joyful sense of being.

Symbolism in Culture

Why this interest in dragonflies, you ask...?

I saw one at work today! Ok, so I've never seen one before...and I certainly never expected to. But I snuck out for a quick break today, it was such a nice day out, and as I sat there with a cup of tea (staring off into space), one nearly whacked me right in the head.

So the whack in the head wasn't so cool. But the dragonfly was! Made my whole day...

Happy Monday ;)

mug-tastic

2008-05-02T08:37:00.004-05:00

Another week nearing completion...where the heck did it go? I could have sworn it was just Monday! hmmm.

Well, anyway...as I sit here, big, old, chipped mug of tea in hand...I thought I'd share some of what I've been coveting this morning.

My ode to mugs.

A simple 16 oz. mug, coppery red & cool gray, created by CyrusthePotter. Drool-worthy. Wouldn't my morning cup of tea look nice in there??? hmmm...

His and Her Coffee Cups, by AlinaHayes. I LOVE the handles on this super sweet pair!

A sweet as can be Red Heart Mug, lovingly created by LynnCardwellPottery. Gorgeous and very, very tempting.

Red & White Ceramic Mug, by GinaDeSantis. Doesn't it look like lipstick on the rim? haha, it would drive my mother nuts...which of course means, I LOVE IT! Well, I love it cause it's really, super pretty, too...

This gorgeous Sienna Mug, by ElmStudios, was the inspiration behind it all. I do think I may need this mug.

I get a kick out of Jusmare's Pine Hollow Mugs! Coolest thing EVER. If I had a rustic little cabin in the woods somewhere...yeah, I'd so have these! Of course, if I close my eyes, I can pretend I'm in a rustic little cabin...

Kinda makes you wanna buy some new stoneware, right? Hey, with all that coffee (or tea) does for you...shouldn't you spoil it a little? Indulge! Buy a mug ;)

mission accomplished.

2008-05-01T10:23:00.004-05:00

did you ever have one of those weeks where your only mission was to get something done? anything?

yeah, i'm having one of those weeks!

but...i did get something done...got some new earrings made & listed...so mission accomplished ;)

right? right!

Happy May Day!

Blessings for Beltane!

and all that jazz ;P

stormy weather

2008-04-25T12:31:00.003-05:00

there's an electricity buzzing in the air...the sky is a swirling mess of grays and deep blues...

positively stormy.

and yes, I love it! there's something about the onset of stormy weather that is downright exciting...and awfully inspiring ;)

and apparently, I'm not the only crafty individual who finds inspiration in forces of nature...

Pretty amazing, right?

Oh! Leelee's lovely 'Stormy Bracelet' has me craving some Iolite! Stunning...and doesn't it capture the energy of a good storm? I think I'm in love ♥

A lighthouse on a stormy sea...gorgeous and incredibly moving...to say the very least! A gorgeous Giclee by an incredibly talented artist. You just have to check Ave Hurley Illustrations out...seriously.

Gorgeous hues, hand-dyed & spun by Yummy Yarn, has me itching to pull out my crochet hooks! Yarn that is stormy and lovely...doesn't get much better than that!

The 'Ion Necklace' is so super pretty...well, I just don't even know what to say. Equilibria certainly has a way with gems...I'm in awe ;)

Cutest little angry cloud. EVER. Komodokat has hooked me with this one...I smile everytime I see him!

And then there's 'Hold On Mr. Squirrel'...the cutest little mini print by one of my favorite artists, HushMouse. You really can't help but smile :)

Inspired yet?

neat-o

2008-04-24T10:29:00.001-05:00

pretty nifty, if I do say so myself...

which, ya know, I do ;)

Smitten

2008-04-18T08:55:00.006-05:00

The window is open and guess what...it's warm! HA! Yes, Spring is FINALLY here in Chicago...and ohmygosh, am I in love with it ;)

I'm in such an awesome mood that not only am I sharing the open window with my obnoxious cat...but I thought, hey, why not share some of the other things I'm absolutely smitten with this morning...

Things I drool over...yes, it's true.

Like DCDesigns really super cute necklace, Carpe Diem...how adorable is that? And the perfect color...PINK! And a steal at $19.00. Smitten worthy? Absolutely!

And then there's the little bear coffee cozy by ChetandDot. It really doesn't get any cuter. Actually, if I had immediate cash to spend (you know, the type that doesn't get set aside for the never-ending stack of bills on the corner of my desk), I think the majority of it would be spent there! Seriously, the cutest shop I've ever seen ;)

How bout some lip balm? Creamy Vanilla Nut anyone? mmmmm...so very yummy. And I'm dying to try some. BathLife, oh how you tempt me! (you think that is sinfully tempting? be sure you check out the rest of their shop...ohmy!)

I think I've had Prudence the Yeti, lovingly created by Nimoy, on my 'to buy' list forever now...she is the cutest little monster I've seen in awhile! And again...pink! It really can't get much better than that ;)

First of all, I'm head over heels in love with all the art of CharlieMotel...super cute everyday stuff. I've been dying to find a reason to buy something...and I think I found it...STATIONARY! Cause hey, I'm a writer dammit.
;P

"Do you need an apple jacket?" my mother asked. You know what? Yeah, I do need an apple jacket...cause it just so happens to be the most awesome thing I've seen all morning! My favorite? The ever so nifty purple apple jacket! (you thought I would have picked pink, right?). Handknit by JacquelineKnits.

Be Happy. On this beautiful spring morning, how could I not be? Super cute and incredibly versatile, this pendant by MoonDogTreasures is! Super cute, yes...but versatile, you ask...? Flip this lovely little pendant over and it reads 'Party Time'. Awesome.

Last, but certainly not least, are some adorable teddy bear postcards by Stockton. I think I love these guys. Really. Seriously. Love. Think they're super cute? You have to check out the rest of the shop...you just HAVE to! The chatty acorns are a hoot! Just sayin'.

And that, my friends, is what I find myself smitten over this fine spring morning. Check 'em out! Show 'em some love! Cause a life without super cute things...well, we won't think about that ;)

Happy Friday!

long time...

2008-04-17T15:25:00.004-05:00

Serious absentee blogger. Yeah, I suck.

Ok, well maybe not so much...I had to work (yeah, you know...outside of my comfy little craft world, argh). But never fear, I'm back! With a little less time on my hands, and a lot less of the sanity I once (a looooooong time ago) possessed...but I'm back nonetheless.

And I actually got something accomplished...go figure.

i got you, babe.

2008-03-25T12:04:00.003-05:00

my own little kitty version of Bonnie & Clyde...

yeah, they look sweet and innocent now...but just wait...nothin' but trouble i tell ya!

happy easter!

2008-03-23T11:18:00.004-05:00

Hey, wasn't it just Halloween?

So I'm selling consignment pieces in a holistic-y 'mind, body, spirit' store here in the Chicagoland area. Fun stuff, huh? Yeah, I thought so, too! Hehe...the only problem is that the jewelry I sell there is a bit different than what I sell in my shop on Etsy. More gemstones rather than vintage lucite & glass...finer metals rather than the brass & copper I so love...higher priced (not only on the actual finished product, but on the supplies needed for said finished product *gasp!*) So a lot of my attention has been there lately...

But somewhere in the midst of the crazy gold-filled, sterling silver world I've been tossed into, I've FINALLY put some time aside to focus on some new creations for the shop...yay!

Ahh...lucite...bliss

And yes, lol, some gemstones slipped into the mix. Gorgeous Rainbow Moonstone....soooooo super pretty. But hey, it was inevidable, right?!?!

Happy Easter!

ohmygosh...!

2008-03-18T22:01:00.007-05:00

So needless to say, I've been off in my own little world lately. Busy as can be...

But I stole a few minutes today, and a huge cup of tea, and escaped to my little nook to peruse Etsy for a bit.

...ah, bliss...

So anyway, when I got around to peeking into my own shop for a minute, I realized OHMYGOSH...I surpassed the 100 items sold milestone! woohoo!

I laughed, I cried, I danced...I hugged my dog ;)

When the heck did that happen? And how did I not notice how close I was? I have to say, of course, that I'm absolutely thrilled...and yeah, kinda proud of myself, lol. I'm super happy and incredibly motivated...200 sales, here I come!

hip-hip-HOORAY!

Rare Bird Finds...and other such exciting news

2008-03-12T09:57:00.006-05:00

First off...let me apologize for becoming an absentee blogger! Did ya ever just need a wee little break? Well, I certainly did...and am feeling much MUCH better for it ;)

So now, I'm getting back in the swing of things (thankfully) and new earrings are finally getting made...

Fun, huh? Yeah...I thought so, too! They're my little ode to summertime...ah, summer.

I should also mention that I'm being featured as the 'Deal of the Day' over at Rare Bird Finds! How exciting is that?!?! Now, you may be thinking to yourself...'oh, that's cool. ummm, errr, ugh, but what does that mean for me?'

Well, if you pop on over to their site, you'll find that for the entire day (until 11:59pm PST), customers are entitled to 30% off in my shop! On anything? Yes, anything!

Feel like shopping? Go for it! Just mention 'Rare Bird Finds' in the notes to seller box and wait for a revised invoice. Don't want to wait? Feel free to pay right away and I'll send a refund (via Paypal) ASAP! Neither of those options floatin' your boat? Then simply contact me prior to ordering and let me know what earrings you're desperately longing for...and I'll revise the item price for ya! All these options, I know...but still pretty darn simple ;)

Well, it's a nice almost spring-like day outside...so I'm gonna go and enjoy it! Have fun, kiddies ;)

yay!

2008-03-04T18:42:00.005-06:00

So I was wandering around Etsy...treasury hunting...when I saw one of those coveted little gold stars...I'm in a treasury! yaaaaaaay!

It's all about Etsy and Indiepublic (hence the title Etsy + Indiepublic) and showcases the crazy talent of some very awesome Etsy artists...and then there are my earrings, smack dab in the middle! (well, middle and left a bit, lol)

Pretty neat, huh?

Butterfly Mosaics was the genius behind this very lovely treasury...she has an incredibly cute shop on Etsy herself...you absolutely HAVE to check out her button bouquets!

A very nice surprise on this way too cold Tuesday evening ;)

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-04T13:49:00.004-06:00

Time to spruce the place up a bit...

Ok, so I redecorated a bit. Not quite sure what I think of things. Are the walls to busy? Is three columns one column too many? Too much color? Hmmm...not sure what I think of my little bloggy creation. Things may be changed again soon...just not sure.

Anyway, I'm in a spring cleaning frenzy! Cleaning up my workspace...throwing out old papers and bills that have been lining my floor...destashing some beads in the shop...out with the old & in with the new, right? right!

Well, wish me luck ;)

Pink

2008-03-01T10:19:00.011-06:00

Time for some color therapy ♥

Indulging in a fit of Friday night boredom, I found myself aimlessly wandering around the internet...tea in hand, dog in lap. Well, I stumbled upon (yes, quite literally stumbled) a great blog post about the meanings of color. So I took one of my favorite (and most often used) colors...PINK...and checked out what it meant...

♥ PINK ♥

Pink is the color of universal love. Pink is a quiet color. Lovers of beauty favor pink. A pink carnation means “I will never forget you”.
Pink is a combination of red and white. The quality of energy in pink is determined by how much red is present. White is the potential for fullness, while red helps you to achieve that potential. Pink combines these energies. Shades of deep pink, such as magenta, are effective in neutralizing disorder and violence. Some prisons use limited deep pink tones to diffuse aggressive behaviour.Pink provides feelings of caring, tenderness, self-worth and love, acceptance, calm feelings, to neutralize disorder, relaxation, acceptance, contentment.Pretty cool, huh? I always knew there was a good reason to like pink! I mean aside from being obnoxiously girly... The best things in life truly are pink ;P

Wanna check out your own favorite color? Check out the original post here!

bliss.

2008-02-28T17:07:00.003-06:00

the birds are chirping...the angels singing...bells, yeah they're ringing...

why, you ask? my computer (the one that went 'kaboom!') is fixed! Yes, FIXED!

ok, well maybe i exaggerate a bit...it's fixed...for the time being. but ya know what? that so works for me.

(chirping birds. wait, do hummingbirds chirp?)

and the computer went KABOOM

2008-02-25T19:13:00.003-06:00

Did my taxes this weekend...that was good. Looking forward to my meager little refund check, I thought of all the things I could do with it. Pay off some bills. Buy some new supplies. Maybe take a little vacation. And that was just swell with me...

...then my computer went kaboom. *sigh*

Sooo, I spent just about one whole day without a computer. And ya know what? It really REALLY sucked. I mean, bad. Withdrawal doesn't even begin to describe it. Thankfully, my dad supplied me with one of his older computers (and he's so getting a kick ass father's day card this year or something, lol), so it's not so bad now. But earlier...yikes!

I guess the tax refund is going towards a new laptop...ah well. I needed a new one anyway I suppose. But you wanna know the saddest thing about my dead computer? I mean, aside from all the lost pictures and files that I never made the time to back up? The fact that I was absolutely lost with a damn computer.

Technology...a blessing and a curse.

Super Lazy Weekend.

2008-02-24T10:51:00.003-06:00

Even the dogs were taking it easy this weekend!

I love lazy weekends. No plans, no obligations...just me and my laptop.

*ahhhh*

As much as I love them, I must admit...I get absolutely NOTHING done! No cleaning, no creating, nadda! Which is bad. I really should pull out some beads and get some new jewelry made.

But will I? hmmm...Maybe.

Doses of Sunshine...

2008-02-21T18:43:00.011-06:00

I don't know about you...but I'm ready for some sunshine! (minus the snow flurries, that is.)

My affair with winter is most definitely over. Ok, I admit...I'm always a little taken with the beauty of the first good snow...when the trees are coated in white and the streets are untouched and serene. And yeah, I enjoy a white christmas. I'll even own up to the short lived obsession with hot chocolate.

But in all seriousness, I'm really done now.

So since I can't necessarily take on mother nature, I've been trying to infuse my shop with sunshine instead! Bright colors...bold & vibrant...are taking over. And though I know it's not the most *popular* color in the world, I've been absolutely obsessed with bright, happy, sunshine YELLOW! Yes, yellow is everywhere! And I'm finding that it really is a bit of a mood booster...

Now if you've been here before (in my nifty little blog), you'll have noticed that I have a love for vintage components...like lucite. And the wonderful thing about lucite or vintage glass is that it comes in soooooo many amazing colors and textures. Did you know how many tones and textures of yellow there are? Ohmygosh, it's amazing!

So when the day is grey (and windy/snowy/icky as can be), and you need some springtime and warmth...sneak a peek into the shop and indulge in some SUNSHINE ♥

But what If I want to go RIGHT?

2008-02-21T15:37:00.004-06:00

Full speed ahead!

No turning back now...

So what do I do? I sit back & enjoy the ride ;)

old keys, please

2008-02-19T13:51:00.006-06:00

I love vintage components and odd little antique pieces. Why? Because every little piece of history has the potential for a spectacular story.

And I'm always looking for a story.

Like the little keys I find...I really know nothing about their history (other than the fact that they're pretty old). But what doors have they unlocked...or locked away? What treasures have they buried? What attic doors have they shut away? What secrets does it possess? Whose clock has it given life to...and on what mantle?

How about old tokens...the ones for trades, or mint packages. Whose pocket did those once sit in? What were some of those 5 cent in trade tokens really used for? I came across some school lunch tokens (some of which I have for sale in the shop) and my mind wondered to a time when kids actually carried tokens to use in the school cafeteria. (Let me just say that I shared that idea with my mother, who quite indignantly informed me that she was one of those kids who carried cafeteria tokens, lol!)

So I search out these little interesting pieces...and the search is usually a lot of fun! And a lot of times, I share my finds...other times I hoard them away in my secret stash.

And sometimes, a really spectacular story comes from them.

Drifting off to sleep...at 4pm???

2008-02-18T15:51:00.004-06:00

I'm sooooooo tired today! Which is kinda odd considering I haven't done much of anything, lol. I actually took a tiny little cat nap on my laptop today! (I'm talking passed out cold, out like a light) Sheesh...I think it's these dreary winter days we've been having.

Well, I did finish up some earrings (before I zonked out that is). I'm all sorts of in love with these great little lucite flower beads I have. Ya know how when spring hits and a few warm days pop up...and suddenly everyone is out with strollers and walking dogs and what not. And it's like, out of NOWHERE there are leaves on the trees and flowers everywhere? Yeah, these remind me of that ;)

I actually have a few different color flowery beads like this listed in the shop. While the others are on copper though, these lovelies are accented with brass.

If these guys stick around long, I'll be shocked...they're just way too pretty!

yup, i'm a lemon ♥

2008-02-17T22:43:00.009-06:00

ok, so i was bored...and looking for some mindless entertainment. so i started taking a couple of quizzes. about important things, ya know? like...if you were a fruit, which one would you be?

see? important!

♥ You Are a Lemon ♥ You have a very distinct personality. And if you're not being sweet, you're a little hard to take.
You're a bit overpowering, especially in one on one situations.
And while you are very dominant, sometimes your power is needed and appreciated.
You can liven up a dull situation, and you definitely bring a fresh outlook.
You are a bit of an acquired taste, and you tend to grow on people over time.
People feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time with you.
What fruit are YOU?

lol! i'm not sure if i'm amused...or ever so slightly offended! hehe, all in good fun. so go on...take the quiz and come back and tell me - What type of fruit are YOU?

No Day But Today

2008-02-17T14:21:00.005-06:00

So for my birthday, a good friend of mine (who knows how crazy I am for anything Broadway) took me to see Rent at the Cadillac Theater in Chicago...one of the perks of living near the city ;)

Needless to say, I was beyond ecstatic! I've known the ENTIRE soundtrack to Rent since I was in 8th grade, lol. It really was an experience...ohmygosh, I love the theater! I had to stop myself from singing along, hehe ;)

An awfully liberal play for a conservative like me, he preached to me the WHOLE ride there...lol, but what can I say, I just LOVED it! And I'll be singing 'No Day But Today' and 'La Vie Boheme' for the next week...

Aside from that, though...I've been crazy earring lady this past week. Seriously...I just keep making them ;) I've been having a blast with different colors and textures, not to mention my newfound obsession with oxidized copper. Well, the good thing about that is that now my shop is absolutely packed!

It's been a delightfully lazy Sunday...and we're having amazingly warm (yet very VERY wet) weather here in Chicago...so I suppose I'm off to open up a window or something. I just can't wait for spring! Cabin fever in the extreme...

** Just wanted to throw in here (many hours after the fact) that this post is edited cause of this damn Chicago weather! lol...it WAS warm earlier today...now it's back to being cold and ucky. Argh...I can't wait for May! **

♥ SALE ♥

2008-02-15T09:35:00.006-06:00

Hi All...quick post (cause my brain is moving a million miles per second this morning...too much tea for me, lol!)

I'm running a sale over at the shop this weekend...yay, right?!?! I figure, it's that icky part of winter where you just want it to be over...and it's cold and there's cold frozen snow on the ground (at least in my neck of the woods)...so why not indulge in some shopping?

So here's my deal...

This weekend only (Friday, 2/15 - Sunday 2/17 Midnight EST), I'm offering 20% off all jewelry purchases (sale items included...but sorry, no destash) ♥

Yup, 20% off...sweet deal, right?

All you have to do is shop til ya drop...checkout...and either wait for a revised invoice to reflect the discount -OR- go ahead and pay and I'll refund ya!

So go ahead and indulge in some mid-winter shopping!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
JezabelsJewels

mmm...CAKE!

2008-02-14T18:23:00.007-06:00

Yesterday was my birthday (yaaaaay!) and like a big kid, I needed a birthday cake and presents and all that jazz. Thankfully, my parents are always more than happy to oblige ;)

What did I do on my 24th birthday? Shopped, of course! lol...I went a bit crazy on Etsy...I'll have to show you guys all my goodies later on.

So. Much. Fun.

Well, as I sit here, enjoying my very low-key valentine's day...I should probably throw in that I updated the shop today! Tons of new goodies (and by tons, I mean six new pairs) are now available...so whatcha waitin' for? Go check 'em out!

Jezabel's Jewels

Retro Lovin' Fool

2008-02-12T22:49:00.003-06:00

Yeah, that's me...a retro lovin' fool ;)

Got in some of my new copper supplies earlier this week (yaaaaay!) as well as some new beads...and I started creating! I'm really into the whole retro inspired thing right now, so of course most of my new earrings take on that feel. *sigh* whatcha gonna do, right?!?!

So most of my new ones are listed up in my Etsy shop now...it will be interesting to see how it goes. Copper is new for me...I'm normally a brass or sterling gal. But when I saw the oxidized copper...well, my little crafty heart went a flutter.

Well, I suppose the night is still young enough to get a couple more pairs done...I'm telling ya, these new supplies have me motivated! Hmmmm...what to do next?

Flying By...

2008-02-10T16:35:00.000-06:00

Ohmygosh...is it Sunday already? sheesh!

Well finally...after a loooooong week of waiting for supplies...I FINALLY got some in and started making up some new stuff! yaaaaaaaay! I got some new shamrock-y charms that I'm really loving. There's something about brass...so nostalgic...and oh so romantic!

With a little bit of mother of pearl and some awesome emerald green chrome diopside, I think it makes a lovely set ;)

I also got a pair of sterling silver shamrocks listed. Oh, and some new destash...so I've been a busy girl today (bout time, right?!?!)

Oh, and guess what? My 'Clustery Clouds on a Blustery Day' earrings were featured in this incredibly lovely treasury by FantasticPlastics! It's entitled 'Sweetest Stuff Since Sliced Bread' and it's all teal-y and GORGEOUS! Oh, and did I mention it is super pretty?

I'm all about the teal/greenish-blue lately...so I was quite happy! If you clickity-click on the picture...you'll get a nice zoomy shot of all the lovely pieces featured...absolutely droolworthy ;)

Who put together this fantastic treasury? FantasticPlastics, of course! An awesome new shop on Etsy...all of their items are crocheted using recycled plastic bags. Seriously, it's awesome and completely earth-friendly! If you haven't checked it out already...what the heck are you waiting for?

Ok, well I start playing with my new copper findings tomorrow...so until then...HAPPY SUNDAY!

...la la la...

2008-02-06T22:13:00.001-06:00

So, because of some awfully poor planning on my part, I'm bored silly. Slap my hand!

What did I do? Well, I got caught up in creating. Which is an awesome thing, don't get me wrong...but I created and created and created...and then I ran out of supplies! oops! So here I sit, relatively supply-less...

*sigh*

I suppose I should take comfort in the oodles of supplies I have on order, though. Guess what I'm gonna be playing with. Go ahead...guess! COPPER! yay, right?!?!

Well, in the meantime, while I sit here with a big cup of tea, I am keeping myself occupied with other things...like a new listing in my shop! Yes, I had enough supplies for one more set of earrings (ya know, the hidden stash supplies).

I had ordered some pillow-y powder blue vintage glass beads awhile back and couldn't figure out what the heck to do with them. They're sooooo pretty, especially with the slight swirling cloudy white inside! Well, then (to my unending delight) I stumbled upon some little antique brass charms...little girls in fly-away skirts and big ol' umbrellas. They go perfectly together!

I'm calling them my 'Rainy Day Girl' earrings...I keep saying that they're inspired by the springtime I keep wishing for...because, of course, I REFUSE to admit that they were partially inspired by this horribly wet Chicago weather we've been having. Yup, this is me...refusing to admit it ;P

Super Quiet.

2008-02-05T12:45:00.000-06:00

It's been really super quiet around here the last few days. Hear that? Yup, those are crickets.

..............................

But it's ok, I suppose...we all need a little peace and quiet every once in a while. So while I sit here, waiting for my new supplies to get here (I'm soooooo impatient, lol), I'll grab a little bit of bragging time ;)

Over this past weekend, Etsy featured not one, but TWO, of my treasuries on it's front page! Cool, right? The first one was a treasury west spot I grabbed. Electric blue & plum. Yummy, huh?

It was entitled 'Spifferiffic'...and while I was thrilled to have my treasury up on the front page, filled with some of my favorite Etsy finds...most of them sold right out from under me! lol ;P

The handblown glass creamer in the middle by rivulettecraft is soooooo on my wishlist! I'm telling ya, I'm buying it one of these days! What the heck am I gonna do with a handblown glass creamer? Ummmmm....does it matter?!?!

So while I was absolutely thrilled about that, imagine my surprise to see another one up on the front page two days later! (Yippee!)

This other one was a lot less colorful...but strikingly beautiful (well, at least I thought so!) It was entitled 'Life' with a subtitle of 'in shades of grey'.

This one was sooooo much fun to put together...you would believe how many tones & textures of grey there are!

So there you have it...my Etsy front page glory ;)

Well, I'm off to enjoy my quiet...but I have to say, I'm gonna cross my fingers that it doesn't last for too long. I like being busy! Someone, quick...send me to the post office!!!

I have WINNERS!

2008-02-03T13:04:00.000-06:00

Wow...first of all let me throw a MILLION THANKS out to all the folks who posted a comment and entered in my nifty lil' giveaway! Seriously, I expected a slightly embarrassing 10-15 comments...but got 128! You guys blew me away ;)

But the question of the day remains...who the heck won? Ok...so I printed up all 128 comments (my poor, overworked little printer)...

(a lot of names, huh?!)

And then I cut them all out and double folded them...and stuck them all in my favorite hand-turned Black Walnut bowl (which I got from Bowls-n-Annies. Seriously, if you haven't already, you just HAVE checked out her husband's handcrafted bowls OMG...but I digress ;P )

And then I stuck my very un-manicured hand into the pot and plucked out Shannon's name! WooHoo! We have a winner!

.......................

And then I looked at that big bowl...with all those names still inside. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a giveaway, lol. I just HAD to pull out another name...I just HAD to! Which is why Playful Professional is also getting a pair of 'Pretty in Pink' earrings ;)

(I apologize for the blurred pic! Jezabel, my incredibly spoiled, quite fluffy kitty cat kept trying to jump up in my lap!) So Shannon and Playful Professional...CONGRATS!

And to everyone who took part...thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You guys made this week so much fun (I'm a comment junkie ;P) and I'll definitely be doing another giveaway soon!

And if you can't wait til the next giveaway...feel free to stop by and do a little shopping ;)

Jezabel's Jewels

♥ BLOGGY GIVEAWAY ♥

2008-01-29T10:44:00.000-06:00

Guess what? No seriously...guess! Jezabel's Jewels is hosting it's first ever GIVEAWAY! yaaaaaaaay ;)

My inspiration came from this FABULOUS new blog I found Bloggy Giveaways...that's sorta sponsoring a whole bunch of giveaways! So click on over there and find some other great deals, giveaways and other fun blogs to peruse...

What the heck is Jezabel's Jewels giving away?
I'm giving away one pair of these 'Pretty in Pink' brass earrings! What I love about 'em is that they're super simple...just little brass kidney wires and doubled up little brass rings...but with a pretty pink faceted lucite bead, there's a splash of color! Super light weight, they measure down to approx. 1.25" (3.2 cm)

Love 'em? Gotta have 'em? Well, one lucky person can! Read on to find out how ♥

How can I win them?
Simply leave a comment here! You don’t have to have a blog to win, but be sure to leave your email address if you don’t have one, so I can contact you. It's that easy ;)

Anything else?
Don't wait too long to comment...entries/comments must be in by 12 (noon) CST, Sunday, February 3, 2008. One winner will be chosen by random Sunday afternoon! Open to all...international comments welcome ♥

Soooooo....whatcha waitin' for? Leave me some love & win something for it! (but hey, this is NOT a bribe! Love me...please?)

Lazy Sunday...

2008-01-27T14:01:00.000-06:00

There's something about Sundays...no matter what plans or goals I make for myself, no matter what I have every intention of getting done...it's always a loss! lol. Sundays are my 'lost days'. I wake up, I click around the internet for awhile, I drink some tea, I watch some Law & Order...and POOF! Sunday is suddenly over!

Well, I suppose that's ok considering how much I got done earlier in the week. Yes, my blog reading friends, I was pretty productive! Well, crafting-wise at least. I managed to get some new pieces listed and even a couple sold (yay!). So all in all, I think I'm entitled to a lost day, right? right!

I went ahead and ordered some new brass charms the other day...some shamrocks, mother's day ones, bunnies. It can be a hassle to find unique supplies lately...especially charms, yikes! First of all, try finding ones that aren't geared towards little kids...then find ones that haven't been used by every other crafter out there. BUT, I'm really happy with a couple new places I've found...so we'll see how it goes :)

Well, off to enjoy my lazy Sunday...I think it may be time for a peanut butter cookie. mmmmm.

*OH OH OH! don't forget my bloggy love free shipping special! It's going on until Valentine's day...whatcha waiting for?*

All my Blog-readin' Friends ♥

2008-01-24T20:20:00.000-06:00

I was somewhat sorta productive these past few days, which is shocking considering how much is going on outside the little internet box (what? there's life off the internet? Yeah, I had that reaction at first, too!) But like a good little crafter, I made up some jewelry, took some pics (though not my best) and listed it in the shop. Do I get points or something for that? hehe ;)

No, but really...do I?

So ANYWAY...like I was ranting about the other day, Valentine's day is coming! Exciting, even for my single self...ok, mainly cause my birthday is the day before the big lovey-dovey day (which means atomic cake for me, yay!) But all that aside...cause I really intended to go somewhere with this...in honor of one of my favorite Hallmark holidays, I'm offering a little special, just for my blog-gy readers...yes, you!

Click on over to my Etsy shop...Jezabel's Jewels...shop til ya drop (for yourself, your mother, your girlfriend...hell, your CAT) and when you're all finished check out, but DON'T PAY. Why? Cause I'll send you a revised invoice with NO SHIPPING! yaaaaaaay for free shipping, right? Ok, one more thing though...in the 'Notes to Seller' box during checkout, enter 'FREE SHIPPING BLOGGY LOVE' so I know that ya came from here.

Did that make any sense at all? Ok, here's the Cliff's Notes version. Shop, Checkout, Write 'FREE SHIPPING BLOGGY LOVE' in the messages/notes to seller box, wait for me to invoice you, then pay :) Easy as pie! (mmmmm....pie....) This oh-so-nifty offer only applies to jewelry and ends on February 14th ♥

So......whatcha waiting for?

Valentine's Day MADNESS!

2008-01-22T15:07:00.000-06:00

I'm in a chatty mood...so don't mind me if I start rambling ;)

Promoting a business, as small as mine may be, can be hard stuff! And sometimes it feels like the hours upon hours I spend getting my name out there, is for nothing. Wait a minute...you mean that my few accounts in random places aren't going to equal instant success? hehe, yes, I indulge in that instant success fantasy sometimes and get a bit...irked...when it doesn't happen. Just cause I realize something is illogical doesn't mean I'm gonna stop being illogical! lol...friends just shake their head at me.

Well, anyway...so I've been promoting my little heart out...especially for the Valentine's day season. I have some pieces that I absolutely love and would really like to see them fly out of my shop. A lot of romantic brass pieces...and a few funky vintage-y pieces. In fact, I am SO excited about the season, I did something I NEVER do...I bought a spot in the Etsy Valentine Gift Guide! Cool, huh? Yeah, I highlighted my 'Stupid Cupid' earrings so you'd believe me, lol.
I know, silly me, thinking that a front page link will get me somewhere. BUT, I've gotten tons of views and a bunch of hearts in my shop...so I'm really happy as a clam ♥

Wanna know what else made me smile? I found myself in an Etsy treasury! Tied Up Memories (who, by the way, has a FANTASTIC shop set up over on Etsy...click on her link & check her out!) created this LOVE-ly list, entitled 'Love is in the Air'! I love being in sweet lil' treasuries like that (ok, I love being in ANY treasury, hehe) But this one really is cute...and I'm so honored to be a part of it! Now if only I had the Paypal cash to buy up half the darn treasury. *sigh*

Thanks, Tied Up Memories! You're the best ;)

Well, I suppose I should go and...oh, I don't know...make something! I've been slacking off a bit lately. I think it's those late nights in the Etsy forums (and for those of you out there that stalk the forums when you can't sleep at night, you know what I'm talking about!) I think I want to start creating bracelets again...hmmmmm.

Brrrrr!

2008-01-20T23:01:00.000-06:00

Brrrrrrr...it's cold outside! No, like seriously cold. This is the part of Chicago's winter that I loathe. I think I need to move someplace warm and sunny. Ah, sun...bliss :)

Well, at least I have some new beads to play with! I just got them in the mail the other day (I LOVE getting mail). I have some pieces featured in a shop over here and my vintage-y lucite stuff just doesn't fit in all that well. It's more 'mind-body-spirit' wellness...so the gemstones with metaphysical properties do a lot better.

On a side note, like my organizational skills? Seriously, it's amazing I can ever find anything... Those beads have been sitting on my desk like this since I opened the package. Bad crafter...bad, BAD crafter!

Lava Rock, Chrysoprase, Carnelian...oh my! Pyrite, too. Now if only I had some free time to get something made...someday soon :) I'd actually like to round out my Etsy shop with some more gemstone jewelry. Hmmm...we'll see.

Feeling Loved ♥

2008-01-17T15:47:00.000-06:00

So things haven't been flying out of the shop this week. And, yeah...it's easy to indulge in a moment or two of feeling icky. Is it me? Do I smell? lol...you know what I mean, I'm sure. But then, some days are good :)

Imagine my surprise to find myself featured in not one, not two, but THREE Etsy treasuries today! Ohmygosh...I'm feeling a lot of Etsy-Love right now! Like check out this awesome magenta themed one by LindaDavisDesigns. I love how bright and bold the colors are...they just jump right off the page! My 'Berry Infatuation' earrings are featured in there...how exciting! It's also really awesome be share a treasury with such talented artists...a few (ok, all of them) that I really REALLY admire. yay!

So as if I wasn't elated enough by that fabulous treasury, I see another little gold star next to this LOVE-ly treasury by LittleShopOfBaubles! It's titled "All You Need is..." and everything in here is love-inspired...which made me smile :) With Valentine's Day coming up, it has the perfect theme...and my 'Love' earrings are in there (yay!). I'm so honored to be in such wonderfully talented company!

Now if those weren't enough to make me smile, I find this super-spiffy treasury created by khouser (who, by the way, has some WONDERFUL ceramic wares...ohmygosh, you just have to check it out!). This one is entitled "dats Berry Berry gooood" and ya know what? It is! Again, my ever so popular 'Berry Infatuation' earrings are featured in here...along with some devastatingly lovely berry colored art. I just adore khouser's Berry Cups :)

See why I'm feeling so loved? Ah, it's good to be me today ♥

My, oh My!

2008-01-14T19:02:00.000-06:00

Well, I've been a busy little beaver today! Had somewhat of a day off (long story), so I got to fiddle around the web some...and I discovered a new site! Ok, well maybe I didn't necessarily 'discover' it today as much as explored it. I heard about it awhile ago...DaWanda!

It's more of an international site...but that suits me just fine. Just think of my jewelry going all over the globe....WORLD DOMINATION! mwah ha ha ha ha! ;)

And ya know I just HAD to set up shop there too! Check out Jezabels Jewels over at DaWanda!

Exciting, huh? Yeah, I thought so too! So why did I have all this extra time to play today? Well, I signed up for a class that was supposed to start today. Imagine my surprise to get a call 90 minutes before class is set to begin...it was canceled due to 'lack of enrollment'. CANCELED! ugh. So after spending another 90 minutes on hold with the registration office (at least it seemed like 90 minutes), I finally get my money refunded. Once more...ugh. So of course I had to go fiddling around the web...to keep what's left of my sanity! lol :P

Typical Monday...

So me and vintage, yeah...we have this 'thing'

2008-01-13T22:05:00.000-06:00

I'm hopelessly addicted to vintage.

There I said it. Whew! Feels good to get that off my chest ;)

haha, ok well in all seriousness, I do have this problem with vintage...especially supplies. I ADORE adding vintage accents in my jewelry. And then, of course, in my quest to find unique pieces I inevitably buy waaaaaaaay too much. And then I need to destash like the bad, bad vintage hoarder I am :P

Like look at these...how cool are they? I stumbled across them (in that sneaky, secret way I do *cough, estate sales, antique stores, cough*) and at first had NO CLUE what the heck they were. After a bit of clean up...scrubbing away the dirt...I found that they are old, brass time check cards! How cool, huh? So of course, I'm using a couple of them as pendant pieces...and a few friends have asked for one or two for scrapbooking. So one would naturally assume they'd all be accounted for, yeah? Um no. I couldn't buy one, two or ten of them...I bought 72.

Or these...old vintage tokens! They're brassy and definitely old. Some are cleaner than others...and some have a heavy patina...but really, they are special (in my ever so humble opinion). What's great about them is that they have larger holes in the center, which makes them awesome for jewelry! Some are 'For Amusement Only', others are 'Good for One Package of Mints', but all of them are quite vintage & super nifty. Again...do I buy one or two? Nope! I buy...well, lots.

I'm not even going to tell ya about the old skeleton keys...See? told ya I had a problem! *sigh* destash time again...at least others will benefit from my overbuying :)

Oh, yeah...look at me...on SQUIDOO!

2008-01-12T23:17:00.000-06:00

Ok, so maybe I've been hiding under an internet rock or something...but I just discovered Squidoo lenses about a week or so ago. And guess what...I made my very own Jezabels Jewels lens!

lkajdflkjsdklfkljvoix78z089uirjejkxlvhxfjkldsfkljd!!!

Sorry, that was the text version of my happy, flailing arms dance :P

Wanna see it? Ok, here we go!

You there yet? Oh, I guess you can't be if you're here...huh? Ok, well go and leave me a comment or two! yay...soooooooooo excited :)

Things I Love ♥

2008-01-11T20:18:00.000-06:00

All too often we find ourselves focusing on the negative. So, I figure...why not take a moment and think happy thoughts *Ü*

♥ WHAT MAKES ME SMILE ♥

Big mugs full of hot tea (milk & sugar, please & thank you) ... handmade bath & body ... finding the *perfect* shower temp ... handwritten thank you notes ... fresh lavender ... MISSY (my puppy) ... rag dolls ... yellow roses (oh, heck...ANY color roses!) ... vintage lucite ... teddy bears ... unexpected gifts ... RASPBERRIES ... video poker ... little chirpy birds ... antiqued brass ... just about anything pink ... fuzzy slippers ... handknits ... hearts ... my kitties ♥ ... strollers on the sidewalks in spring ... tree branches that canopy the street ... the smell of fresh rain ... THUNDERSTORMS ... hot apple cider ... ribbon ... things with my name on them (I'm super corny like that, lol) ... the Smoky Mountains ... pretzels ... PEZ ... waking up to my (current) favorite song on my radio alarm clock ... coconut ... my pink sewing machine ... the bright lights of Vegas ... psychic readings & energy healings ... Jane Austen ... Moonlight on Friday nights (guilty pleasures, lol) ... selling my crafts to folks who covet them ... PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES ... mob movies ... Etsy shopping sprees ... the book store ... vacations ... romance novels ... antique mirrors ... atomic cakes ... dreamsicles ... new socks ... music ... LOVE

ok, did I cover everything? Probably not, but here's one more for the night...I was over on Etsy, browsing around for this & that...and guess what? I'm featured in this lovely treasury!

It's all about 'Treats for the body' and there are some absolutely wonderful treats in there! I'm oh-so honored to be featured there ♥

So I'm gonna send out a HUGE thank you to it's wonderful curator (with awesome taste, might I add)
CupcakeNKisses

aw, nuts!

2008-01-05T22:08:00.000-06:00

Ohmygosh, so exciting...my treasury was on the front page of Etsy today! And ya know what? I missed it. Argh. This is exactly why I think I need to quit my job and just stay home, monitoring Etsy...ALL. DAY. LONG. ha!

Ok, so maybe that won't quite work. *sigh* Well, at least I can immortalize my lovely treasury...

Isn't it pretty? Yes, I was quite proud! Thank goodness for all the talent on Etsy...they make it quite easy to come up with some GORGEOUS ideas :)

Well, after a long day of work...I think I'll sit here with my big ol' cup of tea, in my fuzzy slippers and flitter around the web...or maybe make up a pretty new pair of earrings...

Now there's an idea!

My Very First Post ♥

2008-01-03T09:21:00.000-06:00

How exciting...my very first Jezabel's Jewels blog post! lol *Ü*

A little bit about myself...

Though my blog and Etsy shop are rather new, I'm no newbie to creating! I started making jewelry a while back as a way to accessorize my ever-so-broke college self! Pretty soon, my lopsided loops straightened out and my uneducated efforts began looking like ACTUAL jewelry, lol! I fell in love with creating it (ok, and WEARING it, too!) ♥

I can't say that I have any one particular style...my tastes change with my moods! So while some days I'm loving the sophisticated beauty of pearls & sterling silver, other days I can't get enough vintage lucite & antiqued brass! Some days I'm dramatic, while others find me serene...Ya just never know! No matter what my mood or medium, though...I always create from my heart ♥

I'm blessed to have found some great places to sell my work...at a boutique in the Chicago-land area as well as on Etsy. I couldn't be happier! So, here's to a wonderful, prosperous & happy 2008!