A Productive Day

What an inspired day I've had. David got my flexshaft to work. There must be two moons in the sky. I've been without my flexshaft for months. But we're back in business, buffing, cutting, grinding, drilling and thank goodness I have cup burr capability again.

So I made a few dozen new earwires including a couple of new versions that I've never made before. I'm not certain this newfound creativity is due to any kind of inspiration on my part - more likely that I just can't find my wigjig pattern templates (and I'm too tired and lazy to look for them) so this was a day for innovation. I just can't say enough good things about my Wigjig Olympus! Everything I try to make with the Olympus turns out perfectly.

I just posted these sultry black spinel etruscan inspired handmade chandelier earrings in our new team shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17873404. This handforged design was created by the lovely Jeanette Blix Ryan and was featured in the Fall 2008 Edition of "Step By Step Wire Jewelry". Jeanette has at least one shop on etsy. This is my version of Jeanette's original design. I've created this earring in many iterations using virtually every gemstone. What a delightfully pretty, lightweight and comfortable chandelier this is!

Yes, remarkably eSMArts team now has its own team shop with proceeds from all sales going to worthy causes. It's so nice to see that several of our team members have already donated beautiful handmade artwork to this team shop initiative. Please take a moment to browse our current items for sale.

Thank you again to Van Stewart Bevil the gifted oil artist behind CoastalArtist on etsy: http://coastalartist.etsy.com for providing eSMArts team with awesome artwork for our avatar and team logo. I created our team shop banner and Lois of http://ABeadedAffair.etsy.com volunteered to disperse team shop funds. I want to publicly thank Joyce Bevil of Hobnobbins on etsy: http://hobnobbins.etsy.com for financing our first donation by furnishing one of our team members with a brand new laptop when hers was stolen.

Preparations for my upcoming showing at Thorntonview residence (186 Thornton Road South Oshawa) this Saturday December 29th from 1-4pm are proceeding nicely. If all goes well I will actually be ready for this showing. The pandora bracelets arrived today from Hong Kong along with many of the findings and lampwork beads that I've been awaiting so I'll have a few of those to display this weekend.

To top things off I just read the great comments left on Amy's latest post. Why is it that my airedale terrier gets more comments on her blog than I get on all of my business related blogs put together? Life just isn't fair! Who was it that said never try to compete with kids or pets? Was it W.C. Fields? :)