Mar 8 2010

Handmade Jewelry: New pattern samples for March

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I just got in a new set of paper samples this weekend for my small book earrings and my paper bead earrings and been hard at work experimenting with new designs. This time around I ordered a lot of my favorite kind of paper, Japanese washi.



Japanese washi a medium weight paper made with mulberry fibers. There is a variety of different types of washi, but the kind that most people are familiar with, and the kind I use in my jewelry is Chiyogami or Yuzen washi. This type of washi has a variety of colorful and decorative patterns silk screened on the plain mulberry paper base.  One thing about making jewelry with paper is that you have to pick patterns that will look good on a small scale, otherwise you’ll just get large blocks of color instead a mixture of colors and patterns. Chiyogamil washi is perfect for this purpose.



I got a lot of washi where the dominant color is green to make more green book patterns for my “Wearing o’ the Green promotion on my Etsy shop. So look for

Some of the other papers I’m testing for new jewelry include Pasticcio prints, which are silkscreened cotton rag paper from India.



I’m also intrigued by this new type of paper made of recycled cotton viscose called Stardurst Chiffon. Basically it has a semi-translucent texture that feels similar to fabric.



It has a nice glittery background and is printed with delicate patterns of flowers and vines. What I like about this paper is that fact that it has glitter in the background without it becoming too overpowering like so many other papers that use glitter in the base of the paper. So I’m very interested to see how this paper turns out in my test designs. So keep an eye out!




Mar 1 2010

Handmade Jewelry: Wearing ‘o the Green at my Etsy store

It’s the Wearing ‘o the Green Time on my Etsy shop! Make sure that you don’t get pinched this year on St. Patrick’s Day! Get free shipping on all my green book earrings in my store from March 1st to March 15th! New green designs are added daily! Check out the “Seasonal” section of my store to see which earrings are eligible for free shipping. For updates on new green designs, be sure to visit my Etsy store daily or follow me on Twitter.

Today’s Wearing ‘o the Green earrings are:

Lime Floral Book Earrings


Feb 23 2010

Handmade Jewelry: Etsy Store Update

I’ve been doing some paper shopping for some new designs for my Paper Bead Jewelry and for my small book jewelry. With the spring coming, hopefully very soon, I’m doing some freshening up of my online store and my Etsy store. Meanwhile, I’ve been hard at work putting up some designs that had been working on over the winter. I’ve updated my Etsy store with 5 new designs, one of which, the Purple Clover Book Earrings, sold within hours of me putting them up. Fortunately, I had another pair to put up in the shop, so if you like any of these designs, be sure to visit my Etsy store to see my entire selection:

Purple Clover Book Earrings

Brown Leather Book Earrings

Blue Green Clouds Book Earrings

Blue Embroidery Book Earrings

Blue Cranes Book Earrings

Black and White Marbled Book Earrings

If you want up to the minute updates on when new stuff goes up on my Etsy shop, follow me on Twitter!


Nov 6 2009

Handmade Jewelry @ Etsy: New Etsy Treasury

Pebbles Book Earrings I just got a note from Etsy user leentastic letting me know that she included my book jewelry in her new book-themed Etsy Treasury. If you’re not familiar with what an Etsy Treasury is, it’s an Etsy feature that allows members to curate themed lists of items. With the millions of items that get listed on Etsy, it’s always an honor to be included.

You can check out leentastic’s book-themed Treasury here. Be sure to do so before Sunday as the Treasury expires on November 8th. And if you’re an Etsy user, be sure to comment and check out the work of the other artists in the Treasury!


Oct 29 2009

Handmade Jewelry: Halloween Madness Deal 10-29

It’s Halloween Madness at the Etsy store starting today October 22 until Halloween! This means Free Shipping on all of the items in my Etsy Store until October 31st. Also, look for a special Halloween Madness Deal of the Day where you can get a special deal on any items in the shop that has an orange border around it. The items change daily, so check on my Etsy store daily, or check here on the blog to see what the Halloween Madness Deal of the day is. Get some holiday shopping done early!

Here’s Today’s Deal

Pebbles Book Earrings


Multicolored ovals of yellow, pink, and green on white makes for a fun set of book earrings. Covered with acid-free paper designed by Peek Stationers, these earrings also have inner pages of Brockway text paper and are bound with Italian book cloth. Ear wires are 14kt gold fill french hooks.

Normal Price: $17.75
Today’s Halloween Madness Price is $14.75 + free shipping!

Each pair of earrings come on an earring card that doubles as a mini-book. Open the pages and read about “The History of the Book”! Click here to check them out!

Plus, check out the new items on the store as well

Teal Floral Book Earrings


Oct 27 2009

Handmade Jewelry: Halloween Madness Deal 10-27

It’s Halloween Madness at the Etsy store starting today October 22 until Halloween! This means Free Shipping on all of the items in my Etsy Store until October 31st. Also, look for a special Halloween Madness Deal of the Day where you can get a special deal on any items in the shop that has an orange border around it. The items change daily, so check on my Etsy store daily, or check here on the blog to see what the Halloween Madness Deal of the day is. Get some holiday shopping done early!

Here’s Today’s Deal

Royal Chinese Writings Book Earrings


The bold black Chinese characters on a pale cream background makes for a memorable pair of book earrings. Handmade with Japanese kozo paper, with inner pages of Brockway text paper, and bound with Italian bookcloth. Ear wires are made of 14kt gold fill french hook earwires.

Normal Price: $17.00
Today’s Halloween Madness Price is $14.00 + free shipping!

Each pair of earrings come on an earring card that doubles as a mini-book. Open the pages and read about “The History of the Book”! Click here to check them out!

Plus, check out the new items on the store as well

Aiden Book Earrings

Lime Floral Book Earrings


Oct 22 2009

Halloween Madness Sale on Etsy

It’s Halloween Madness at the Etsy store starting today October 22 until Halloween! This means Free Shipping on all of the items in my Etsy Store until October 31st. Also, look for a special Halloween Madness Deal of the Day where you can get a special deal on any items in the shop that has an orange border around it. The items change daily, so check on my Etsy store daily, or check here on the blog to see what the Halloween Madness Deal of the day is. Get some holiday shopping done early!

Here’s Today’s Deal


Tangled Rose Book Earrings


Recycled never looked so good. These book earrings have covers made of printed recycled paper. With inner pages made with Brockway text paper, these earrings are also bound with Italian bookcloth and 14kt gold fill wire and french hook earwires.

Normal Price: $16.25
Today’s Halloween Madness Price is $14.25 + free shipping!

Each pair of earrings come on an earring card that doubles as a mini-book. Open the pages and read about “The History of the Book”!
Click here to check them out!

Plus, check out the new items on the store as well

Halloween Pumpkin Book Earrings

Scandia Book Earrings

Citrus Book Earrings


Oct 16 2009

Handmade Jewelry: Etsy Store Update

While I’ve been plugging away on some new jewelry (and some TV series), I’ve also been updated the Etsy store as well. Some are one of a kind so if you like what you see, visit the store now and get them before they disappear. Click directly on the photos to see them or you can visit the shop directly to see the whole selection!

Oasis Mendi Book Earrings

Isabelle Book Earrings

Clayton Book Earrings

Ivory Pattern Book Earrings

Dogwood Book Earrings

Smoke Dew Drop Book Earrings

Wintergreen Dew Drop Book Earrings

Annette Book Earrings

Parchment Dew Drop Book Earrings

If you want up to the minute updates on when new stuff goes up on my Etsy shop, follow me on Twitter!


Oct 15 2009

Handmade Jewelry: Some works in progress

After some really great weather here in Chesapeake for the past couple weeks, it seems like we’re in for three or four really cold, soggy, days. Looks like fall is definitely here. Fortunately, staying inside is not too much of a bummer, because I’m now deep into book jewelry-making mode, partly in preparation for the holidays, but mostly because I got some really great paper samples to experiment with.






I’m especially intrigued by some of the “flocked” paper samples I’ve been working with. These papers have a “flocked” or velvet like design printed on top of the paper. The result is a very tactile velvet texture that “feels” interesting as well as looks interesting. I’m pleased with a great many of the designs and I’m planning on having these up on the Etsy shop sometime soon…so keep an eye out there or on Twitter.






Another great thing about cold, soggy days and jewelry making? Series marathons! I’ve already went through Seasons 1 and 2 of True Blood, all six seasons of Sex and the City (and the movie) and I’m now working my way through the Gilmore Girls. Whoever thought of television series on DVD was a genius. Hopefully the rain will hold out until I get through all of my earrings and Season 3 of Gilmore Girls.


Oct 10 2009

Handmade Jewelry: Etsy store update

I just added three new pairs of small book earrings to my Etsy store yesterday. These are actually one-of-a kind designs so once they’re gone…they’re gone! Click on the photos below to check them out or go directly to my small book company etsy store to see the entire selection.

Red Fan Dance Book Earrings

Feather Book Earrings

Tomi Book Earrings

If you want up to the minute updates on when new stuff goes up on my Etsy shop, follow me on Twitter!