WIP Wednesday

I know it looks like it's done, but trust me.

This is still a WIP.

The hammering did not go quite according to plan, a few of the wraps are wonky, it feels just a tad too wide when worn, and it has a slight lean to it.

And this clasp? Not crazy about it. It needs something more.

All in all it's cute enough for my wrist, but I won't be subjecting anyone else to it until the design is just right.

Also a WIP? My finger.

Close encounters of the pliers kind!

(Side note: Get that girl some moisturizer, STAT!)

Flung

And the winner is....SONGBIRDTIFF!

Who has a fab blog, BTW. Check it out!

Happy weekend all!

WIP Wednesday And I Need A Nap!

In between teething toddler fun and Flinging, I have been working on some new additions for the shop.

Not everything has gone according to plan.

For example, this:

Is actually the second, and unfinished full version of a bracelet I have been working on for a while.

That's the 16 gauge copper again, and I have the bruised fingertips to prove it!

Then there's the aftermath of the complete rewiring I did on the bracelet for the fling:I know I left a desk in there somewhere...

You can enter my Fling until midnight EST on Thursday, and some of the SITSers giveaways are still going on. There are over 300 giveaways listed. I've left so many comments, the word verifications are starting to talk to me again...

I'm going to take a nap.

Fling on.

FLING!

Today is the SITS Spring Fling!



The hourly giveaways are happening on the main page, but don't miss the Mr. Linky. It's chock full of individual giveaways. I was on by 8:30 this morning, and I'm #160!

If you haven't been over there to check it out...

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

Go! I'll still be here when you get back.

Choosing to ignore the 6ish inches of heavy wet snow we got yesterday, I am giving away a piece of spring bling. It is made from glass beads shaped like leaves, flowers, and flower centers that are individually hand wired and hung on bright silver steel (chosen for strength).

Then length is adjustable, but if you win, and are concerned about the fit, I will gladly adjust it prior to shipping.

All you have to do to win it is to leave a comment by midnight on Thursday March 12th, and answer one question:
What's your favorite part of Spring?

WIP Monday

Spring!

Um....

Spring?

And The Winner Is:

Tori from The Sweet Jelly Bean!

Congratulations, Tori! These will be heading your way this week!

Thanks again to everyone who entered. Your comments were all so sweet, and will definitely help motivate my where-the-heck-is-spring self to get back to work!

If you're eagerly awaiting the Spring Fling, The SITSers announced this week that it will be moved to March 10th. Remark your calendars!

A Mossy Bit-O-Sunshine

It snowed here this week.

It's supposed to snow again this weekend.

And those cupcakes at the weather channel are talking about more next weekend.

I know Phil saw his shadow and all, but if this keeps up, I'm going to track that furball down and

We. Will. Have. Words.

There was a great surprise in my mailbox this week, though.

My snow covered mailbox... but I'm not bitter...

How fab is this?

I won it, courtesy of Erin At Every Heart Crafts.

I have plans for this yummy hint of spring already, and I can't wait to get to work on it!

Erin has a great Etsy shop, too. My favorite is the Green Bodhi Leaf, but you'll have to judge for yourself!

Let It Ride

Wow!

You guys are some of the nicest commenters I have ever met!

It makes me want to get back into my office ASAP and polish up some really amazing listings for the update and Spring Fling.

If you haven't already entered, you can do so until midnight on February 21 at midnight EST.

Don't forget that

will be hosting a major spring giveaway starting March 3rd.

I'm off to tinker with these:

And how fab are those green adventurine beads? This photo totally does not do them justice.

They're like tiny round reminders that the snow will be gone very soon.

100!

***************

Comments are now closed, and the winner will be announced on Monday.

Thanks for playing!

***************

Today marks my 100th post here at Oh2122.

Woo-hoo!!!

I have been hard at work on the pending shop update I've scheduled for March 1st, so I thought I'd give you all a sneak peek today.

My bead board is looking very springy indeed.

In honor of my 100th post, and because everyone needs a little spring boost, I'm giving these away:They're amethyst and sterling hung on hand embellished sterling earwires.

With a tiny surprise underneath.

To enter, leave a comment on this post. It's as simple as that!

Be sure that your comment contains a way to reach you through your user profile, blog, or email for the non-bloggers. (The AT and DOT format is fine for leaving email addresses.)

Comments will be open until February 21st at midnight, EST. I will pick a winner via Random.Org and announce the winner the following Monday.

GOOD LUCK!

Doing My Part For The Troubled Economy

One bead at a time.

That bottom strand was actually in the goody bags that Beadles gave away this weekend. It's chock full of semiprecious chips. I was so excited when I saw it, I actually did a fist pump/YES combo.

All alone in my car in a busy parking lot.

Something in that picture will be a part of the SITS Spring Fling.

Something else will be leaving Oh2122 a little earlier than that.

Anyone else notice the post count around here lately?

This is #96.

Which means 100* is rapidly approaching.

In the blog world such an occasion demands a little flair, right?

Right.

*Ok, so technically it's my second 100th post, seeing as how I hit 100 somewhere else too, but is anyone really going to argue with me?

Didn't think so.

"Oooh, Shiny!" Monday

It seems like every Monday post lately has included either gifts or custom orders.

Yellow and black stone with silver plate:Freshwater pearl, crystal, and silver plate: I've had a few requests for these, so I'm working on adding them to the shop as a custom listing of their own.

In other crafty news, I have thrown myself in to the deep end of the pool via a very large giveaway.

I don't have the details yet, but suffice it to say there will be flinging.

In the springtime.

So I have to get back to work.

Happy Monday all!

A Snowy Birthday

We actually have two January birthdays in my family in the same week, but my Dad's not really into bling.This bracelet was for Middle Sister's birthday.
It's made from silver plate medium curb chain with crystals, freshwater pearls, silver swirls, and natural garnet stones.
It's sparkly and swingy and just plain fun to wear.

I may have to make another!

Up this week: a meme, a flash back, some comment love, and my continuing addiction to storage. In the meantime, check out what the Thrifty Decor Chick is up to:



Not content to simply show us all the incredible things she's doing around her house, she's set up a Mr. Linky so we can all continue to share with each other.

She's an enabler. I'm sure of it.

WIP Wednesday

This is this week's major WIP. What's that you say?

It looks finished already?

Well of course it does!

It's the other 5 exactly like it that are WIPs.

This week's WIP is my biggest order yet. 6 bracelets for a Valentine's Day wedding party.

How sweet is that?

We Interrupt This Frosted Friday To Bring You A Finished WIP

I've finished the ornaments for Hubby's family, just in time!

Only two of them know about my little bloggy adventure as of this posting, so...

Hi, In-Laws!

For a small primer on the SOPs at Oh2122, see the bottom half of this post.

Hope you liked these!

They're a little bigger than the last set, but I think I have the technique down now.I'm going to start sketching some variations for sun catchers for the shop.

Christmas is so last year. Bring on Spring!

These are for Hubby's cousins.
However, the pitcher's shape was not ideal and the flash reveals that we no longer heat dry with our dishwasher.

Ooops.

Next week should bring a return to a level of relative normalcy, thank cupcakes. The shop is in need of an update, and I have two new custom orders to work on.

Have a great weekend all!

WIP Wednesday

I'm hard at work on the last of the ornaments for Hubby's family.This stroke of genius came as a result of the impromptu copper wire ball I created when I made my mother's birthday gifts.I really didn't want a repeat performance.

These are not WIPs, but they technically were a few hours before this photo.
On the left: Onyx and sterling wire.

On the right: Freshwater pearl and copper.

Back to work!

Crafty Loot

Bloggy peeps, there are some DEALS to be had out there!

I am positively stocked with crafty bits post-Christmas!

Thank you Hubby! How did you know EXACTLY what I wanted?

*snort*

Not pictured is the sterling wire I ordered on Etsy, the wire rounder from Art Beads, and the cookie cutters from Michael's that were insanely discounted.

And thanks to some generous relatives who are familiar with my B&N addiction, I scored 200 Crochet Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets, and a very cool calligraphy starter kit. Bonus, I still have room on my gift cards! I've requested a few crafty books from the library so I can test drive them before buying. Love that inter-library lending!

Yes, I did get things that were not craft-related. I am nothing if balanced when it comes to shopping. So among other things there may or may not be two new pairs of shoes in my closet. And if there are, they were most certainly on sale. Possibly even clearanced down to 1/3 their original price. And left there by elves under the cover of night.

Ahem.

I'm going back to Michael's and Joann's this week to check out their fab end of the year clearance deals. If you're crafty or know someone who is, it is VERY worth it to sign up for their email notices. I am getting % off coupons from both places at least once a week.

Before I drag Monkey back to the store with the "Beads!" I should share a story.

A teeny tiny little old lady* stopped me in Michael's this weekend to ask if I wanted one of her coupons. She wasn't getting anything that wasn't already on sale, so she couldn't use them. Sadly, neither was I, but how sweet was that of her to offer?

*If I, at 5'6" AFTER YOGA, thought she was teeny tiny, how tall could she have been?

Oh2122's Family Christmas Swap

In case I haven't mentioned it (at least 50 times) I have a huge family. So big, we have to draw names for Christmas or we'd all go broke.

My little family unit of 3 actually got 3/4ths of another family unit. Weirdness like this happens all the time. One cousin has now gotten my youngest sis 3 years in a row.

When I asked this cousin what she wanted, she told me, "My birthstone is pearl, my favorite colors are red and black, and I have NO BRACELETS."

Done and done, cuz.

This is made with white and grey freshwater pearls and finished with silver plate findings.

Loving these grey pearls!

This one is red jade and onyx with permanently colored copper wire.
The clasp is hand made to match and connects to the last loop on the last link.

I've auto posted this for after the party's start time, so as not to ruin the surprise.

Off to eat way too many cookies!

Custom Order For Etsy

The custom order I received on Etsy was to replicate the Binney Bracelet in gray.

The original is made with glass beads and pink freshwater pearls.

Lining them up.

Making sure the length matches.

Very important as freshwater pearls vary by nature.
The finished project. It hit the post office this morning!

First custom order - CHECK!

Loving these pearls too.

Must resist urge to go back to bead store.

Must.

Resist.

Resolve.

Failing...

Smile And Wave

Having made my first (and second... and first custom..) Etsy sales, it's time to out myself. I've been blogging on the DL for quite a while now, so this will be a bit of a shock.

Everyone smile and say, "Hi Alicia's entire family!"

My mother's birthday was this weekend, and I made a little something for the occasion.

They're made with silver plate findings, crystals, and freshwater pearls.


Christmas is a very big holiday in our family, so this one's from Monkey.

Copper and glass seed beads.

Monkey does nice work, huh?

I wish. That 16 gauge copper is great in a finished project, but murder on my hands!

Outing myself has a two-fold purpose.

The first is that I can actually say things like, "I have to go to the post office to ship an order." Or, "I was at this blogging conference..." Or, "I forgot to RVSP because I was knee deep in email and thought I had already."

The second is that I come from a big family. A big CRAFTY family.

They knit. They crochet. They sew. They quilt.

They should also ETSY!

So if you're here for the first time, and know me outside of the bloggiverse, there are a few ground rules on Oh2122, for your safety and mine.

I say my name, but only my first name. No last names, please. Hubby and the Monkey are only ever Hubby and Monkey. You can use your name, but omitting your last name is probably best.

Monkey's picture is never posted here.

Ever.

Yes, I'm in MA, and most of you are too, but there's no need to say where in MA.

You'll meet a lot of nice people among the pixels, but it's always a good idea to be cautious.

Have fun, be careful, and welcome to bloggy land.

'Cause I Needed More Beads

Yes I did.

I actually managed to enter the store and only leave with what I came for.

Yay me!

I found some great Tiger's Eye, which I think will be used in remaking yesterday's bracelet.

And if memory serves, this is Carnelian.
But I forgot to write it down.

Boo me.

I'll be back there very soon, though. They have a frequent flyer card and I hit the spend $ get $ mark.

Of course I did.