First Juried Event Application!

I am sooooo excited! We submitted an application to our first juried two day event! It will be March 27th and 28th in Lake Park, FL.

The application process was nice -- submitted through a site called ZAPPlication (thanks to Jim Mackintosh for posting about it in his blog!). It is an awesome site for fellow Artisians' looking to apply to events. You fill out your profile and can upload up to 40 photos of your work and a booth photo. When you find an event you wish to participate in, you simply apply (it uses your profile information) and select the designated number of photos and a booth photo, pay via PayPal and you're done! No more filling out individual applications and sending expensive slides (I sound like their marketing director don't I? LOL).

At any rate, we are excited about the possibility of being able to participate. We are really enjoying doing events. Look out world -- I think we've got the bug!

Weather and outdoor events...

Well, it was a little ironic that today's event that was canceled due to bad weather could have gone on after all. Mother Nature pitched her fit last night and it turned out to be a beautiful day today! A little chilly due to the cool front moving through, but nothing a hoodie and long pants couldn't handle.

The weather man is saying we are in for a weekend washout but we haven't heard anything about the 7th Annual Holiday in the Park two day event we are scheduled to participate in Friday and Saturday being called off. I guess we will get to live on the edge -- ride it out and see what happens! You just never really know about the weather sometimes. It can be spot on one day and miss ya completely the next. We will just have to "hide and watch" as my mother would say.

So, unless we are told otherwise, WE WILL be out there with tables adorned enjoying the festivities and conversation! We really do enjoy doing the events. We get to meet so many great folks and hang out in the fresh air for the day!

If you happen to be in the St. Petersburg/Pinellas Park, FL area Friday or Saturday, please feel free to stop by and check things out. There will be LOTS of things for children and adults alike!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. Maybe we'll even see a few of you stopping by our tables.

See you then!
Kat

Event Cancellation

EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE

We just got the call that tomorrow's Harvest Marketplace Event has been canceled due to nasty weather in the forecast.

We will be there next week, though (weather permitting)! See you then! :)

This week's events!

We are sooooo excited about the upcoming events we will be participating in!

This Thursday we return to our weekly event of the season --

Harvest Marketplace in Largo, FL.

Thanksgiving is over and the rush for Christmas shopping has begun! It should be an exciting week with cooler temperatures, live music, folks of all ages socializing and bustling about the booths!

Free Parking
- Street side parking along West Bay Dr and 1st Ave SW.
- Lot at the corner of 1st Ave SW and 2nd St SW (entrance on 1st).
- Lots on the south side of West Bay Dr (one-way entrances on 4th, 5th, and other side streets).
- Lots on the northeast and northwest corners of 4th St NW and 1st Ave NW.

Date:	Thursday, December 3, 2009
Time:	9:00am - 2:00pm
Location:	Ulmer Park
Street:	301 West Bay Drive
City/Town:	Largo, FL

Friday evening and Saturday we will be at the

7th Annual Holiday in the Park in Pinellas Park, FL

Celebrate the spirit of the holidays as the Pinellas Park Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association presents "Holiday in the Park".

This community-wide family event with a holiday theme will feature children's games, entertainment, live music, pony rides, SPCA pet adoption, crafts, photos with Santa, hay rides, children's train and much more!

Join us for the festivities and fresh air! We will have many new items plus items from our website. We look forward to seeing you there! Feel free to tell us you saw us on Facebook!

Friday, 6 - 10 p.m.
Saturday, Noon - 10 p.m.

Admission is free.

Start Time:	Friday, December 4, 2009 at 6:00pm
End Time:	Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:00pm
Location:	England Brothers Band Shell
Street:	5121 80th Terrace North
City/Town:	Pinellas Park, FL

Dave's adventures in wire...

The adventures in wire wrapping continues to the next level of wire SCULPTURE!

David has been having a blast with his tools, wire and beads! His continual quest for learning new techniques and coming up with different ways to use them.

Here are a few of his most recent creations.

Lapis Lazuli in Sterling Silver Cuff

Leopard Skin Jasper Sterling Bangle Bracelet

Carnelian Sculptured Sterling Silver Bangle Bracelet
with Invisible Clasp

First Event

WHEW!!!!!

Well, all the preparation for the first event was worth the experience and hard work. I must say that it was a fun journey which the fruits of my labor will be useful for a good long while to come.

The event was a whole other new experience -- a good one. It was one that those who do events are quite familiar with -- wake before the sun to load up and make it to the event location, find your assigned spot and get things set up...It was a BEAUTIFUL day! A long day...An overall, actually quite enjoyable, day! Watching my darling husband work the crowds was a real treat! If they don't remember anything else about us, they will remember that we were not afraid to smile and engage in pleasant dialogue with them! Having the opportunity to interact with folks was awesome. And the two buying customers (friends) made the whole process worthwhile!

Our location was not exactly ideal, but we have been assured that next week we will have a prime location -- this week was a very effective trial run. Learned a few lessons (VELCRO is our FRIEND! LOLOL) that we will use to make the NEXT event better. I was SO glad I went ahead and purchased the wall kit for the canopy because it came in handy right off the bat...The "breeze" was quite GUSTY which of course does not play nice with necklace boards/displays (refer back to VELCRO comment above). LOL

Our setup itself was attractive. There were more jewelry vendors there than I was told would be allowed. And apparently the supposed handmade only requirement -- turned out to not exactly be the case. There was lots of "re-sell" items on the other tables. I can say, with pretty confident certainty, that, we and one other couple, had real gemstones, sterling silver items and were actually hand made (the other couple went a step further than us and hand cut and polished their own stones. In fact, two of our wrapped pendants were stones we bought from them at the same market last year.). We had many, many compliments from those that did make it to the back side of the property and visited our tables. And we passed out a TON of cards. Several ladies have custom pieces they are going to be contacting us with and one lady is bringing in a stone to have us re-wrap for her that she had previously purchased from someone else!

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, even with the given *minor* hurdles associated with participating in an outdoor event. All of the vendors that we met were quite pleasant and ALL of the folks that stopped by were awesome to have had the opportunity to meet! Major kudos to the event coordinator -- she did a fine job! And we were SO GRATEFUL for the lunch and endless supply of fresh cold bottled water!

We are looking forward to next Thursday!

Preparation -- busy busy!

Here I go again -- seemingly silent on the blogosphere. But, don't you worry! I've been busy, busy, busy over here!

Not only is our day job business picking up (slowly but I think I can, I think I can assuredly!) but I have been scurrying about preparing for the upcoming events! All the research and purchases along the way in preparation of doing events seems to be coming together quite nicely. I had purchased the banner, canopy and door/walls back in the summer (made sure and got the commercial vented top canopy I REALLY wanted rather than what was at the local hardware store); we made the canopy leg weights from PVC pipe caps and rope; found some nice black, vinyl top, fold in half, folding tables at Walgreens (via a lady in the table aisle in Sam's no less LOL); made the table skirting and found some lace for table runners; AND scored some glass blocks and folding chairs from freecycle (http://freecycle.org to find your local branch); then got a black shelf for it; signed up for a merchant account so I can accept credit card payments...LOTS OF PREPARATION! Not to mention working on inventory to fill the tables! LOL! I had ordered an old fashion type knuckle buster credit card imprinter (nice one that even takes a 5 line name plate) so that I could give the customer a receipt and have record of their information and signature to prevent back-charges but there was a little hiccup that occurred which had to be remedied (ordered online and the company failed to catch that I had ordered long slips with a short slip machine -- lovely), but that is in the process of being resolved. AND the credit card swipe machine has been shipped and will be here in plenty of time for the first show! Now, if I can get wireless internet with the laptop we will be in business - literally!

Of course there are always the last minute things to take care of, but I think this is probably the first time in my life that I have prepared enough in advance that if there ARE any other hiccups they should be minor (KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!!! LOL).

Here is a pic of the practice setup of the booth...


I have already made some adjustments to it: I took a VERY nice suggestion from a fellow local wire wrap jewelry artisan for adding more interest and functionality to the display by adding a shelf supported by glass blocks -- turned out fabulous! And I finished the lace table runners to go across both tables and the new shelf. I am VERY pleased with how it is coming together! I will update this post with a new pic when we do the first event and have everything set up. :)

So, as you can see, things have been quite busy over here - in stark contrast to the crickets and silence. LOL

Be sure to keep up to date on scheduled events by regularly checking the Event Calendar on our website. We have several weeks of events scheduled and would love to have you pop over to say hey and maybe even find something you just can't live without!

Dragonfly Lapel Pin work in progress

I thought it would be neat to share the journey in progress in photo format of how the Dragonfly Lapel Pin came to be.
I hope you enjoy seeing the progress!

The pieces for the body and wings were measured and cut of sterling wire.

The wire ends of the body at the head were balled which will later become antenna...wings were soldered on.

Now that everything is assembled, pickled, finished out and polished, time to begin weaving!

The first wing took FORRRRRRRRREVERRRRRRRR...

First wing finished and moving on to the body...Antenna formed into shape.
The second wing went MUCH quicker...WHEW!
You probably wouldn't believe how much wire was actually used in this little guy!

Perched upon a shell rose...A lovely place to rest after all that work!

Sterling, Garnet and faceted fiery Labradorite Dragonfly

Front

Back

May I present to you -- the latest of my Muse's inspirations! A dragonfly made of 20ga, 28ga and 30ga sterling silver that has been cut, bent, balled, soldered and FINALLY woven...This was a fun exploration of new techniques and tools.

The initial intent was for it to be a necklace pendant but I believe this one will be more suited as a pin and one of heavier gauge wire for the body be fashioned as a pendant. This is nice and lightweight and would work perfectly as a pin...How to attach the pin finding (without glue of course!) will be the next challenge. :) *see update below!*

Dimensions: 2" from top to bottom x 3" wingspan

Click here to see more information on this piece.

Oh! By the way, I also made the flower the dragonfly is sitting on. It is made from shells I collected from our beach. :) If you would like one of your own, I have them for sale in my mom's store in Claremore, OK. It comes complete with a poem I wrote -- the roses symbolizing our walk with Christ and our lives as broken shells.

UPDATE! I am very pleased to say that the dragonfly is now a PIN! I sat down this evening with wire and tools and was able to fashion a pin back and successfully wrap it onto the back side of the body. Nice and tidy! PERFECTO!!!

Beading Storage Dilemma

Front

I had recently been involved in a thread/conversation of a wire wrap jewelry Yahoo group regarding the dilemma of storage and organization of beads, tools and materials. I shared my roll around beading station with them and several thought it was a great idea so I thought I'd share it with you all here!

It all started with my sister showing me her roll around cart. It was a simple project that morphed into what you are about to see. I just can't leave well enough alone.

I took a trip to the local Target and picked up a nice heavy duty Rubbermaid type 4 drawer roll around cart style cabinet...after I loaded it up with all my stuff I quickly realized that rolling it on the tile with all that weight the wheels literally came off...so off to Harbor Freight we went and picked up a light duty furniture dolly to set the cart on. I had a couple of sheets of pegboard that was just behind a door that held strands of beads, findings, etc. for a few months. I screwed one of the pieces of pegboard to the back of the cart (not only had the wheels fallen off but it became "rickety" from rolling across the tile) which gave it immediate stability! Since the pegboard was taller than the cart I also had storage on the back side of the pegboard (seen standing in front of the cart) for more storage. I then drilled holes on both sides to hang my bead bins (aka hardware storage bins usually found in a garage for screws and such) and hung one on each side of the cart using pegboard hooks. To make it easier to roll around, since the furniture dolly is slightly wider than the cart, I screwed a cup hook on each end of the furniture dolly exposed top and one into the end of a stick long enough to use as a handle... :)

TA DAAAAAAAAA!!! Works perfectly as a roll around cart that can be stashed away in a corner (note...clean out corner to store cart in. LOL).

I have another one for my soldering/fusing and miscellaneous out in the Florida room - pool side! :)

Top

Side

Back

More goodies!

Kambaba Jasper

I tell you what, I don't know when I have been so pleased with a bead order as I have with the last order I received from Magpie Gemstones! I have had the most fun just going through the beads over and over and riding the resulting wave of inspiration! I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my next order!

I have added a couple of new bracelets to the website. This design is proving to be quite comfortable as well as attractive. My husband, David, says that the Kambaba Jasper bracelet is his favorite! The patterns in the Kambaba Jasper is absolutely breathtaking. It's a shame that I can't seem to capture the patterns effectively with the camera. I am in constant awe that these beads originated from the earth! What amazing and precious gifts they are to us. And to be able to adorn our bodies with them is all the more exciting!

I hope you enjoy the fruits of my favorite past-time...gazing deep into a tray of beads!

Silver Needle Agate
Apricot, rich taupe and white

Silver Needle Agate Sterling Wire Wrapped Bracelet

This bracelet is the latest creation of my newest bead shipment...I just LOVE this stone - Silver Needle Agate. It has so many beautiful colors and patterns in the same strand. The two different size barrels gave inspiration for this bracelet. It is so beautiful on! And coordinating a ring with it - soooooooo pretty! Even if I do say so myself! LOL If you work in an office, this bracelet with a coordinating ring would brighten your day just getting to look at them all day while you type!

If you are interested in purchasing this bracelet it can be found on my website (click here) as well as the coordinating ring selection (click here).

Rings, rings and more rings!

Rust Web and Brecciated Jasper
I have been making product detail pages for the new rings the past few days! Some of the rings shown on the New Rings gallery page are sneak preview photos but about half of them have their product detail pages set up. I have also added a few more rings! I still can't believe how beautiful these are turning out! I am going to be making multiple configurations to accommodate a wider range of ring sizes (which is why some of the detail pages are not finished, YET...) this weekend. It is like I've found a hidden treasure and my imagination is just going wild with ideas for it all! I just seem to be stuck in ring mode right now...Which is perfectly alright with me! I needed some fresh new styles! :)

Seems like any time I get close enough to the tray of beads, wire and my tools I am cutting more wire to wrap up more rings! TOOOOOOO FUN!!!!

Botswana Agate Rondelles

Oh boy, oh boy, OH BOY!

Can you tell that I am sooooooooooooooooo excited?! I received another yummy bag of goodies from Magpie Gemstones today! I do believe my muse is rolling around giggling in a pile of beads tonight!!! I am in full on ring mode!

Brown Opal

Silver Leaf Jasper

Rust Web jasper

Kambaba Jasper

Mica

Brown Opal

African Turquoise Jasper

Silver Needle Agate

YouTube Début!

Believe it or not, I have been pretty busy over here lately! We have had family in town - it has been quite a lot of fun getting to bead and hang out with my sister and her family. I have been wanting to put some pieces on YouTube to expand my base but didn't know how to go about it. So, while my sister and her family was in town my niece, Kurstin, taught me how to make a video of my jewelry photos. Kids are so smart now-a-days!

Kat's Custom Kreations - YouTube Jewelry Video Presentation

Feel free to check it out if you have a chance! I hope to be putting together more to post so subscribe if you'd like. :)

Fun little afternoon project...

OK...so I've been eyeballing a bin of what was labeled at the bead shop as"Crab Fire Agate" (some call it "Spiderweb Carnelian") for a while now...Trying to conjure up a design for them. I spotted a herringbone focal bead bracelet yesterday and thought -- THAT'S IT! The beads are a smooth nugget but none of them are uniform or drilled in a fashion that would lend itself to how I normally construct a piece...so these made me have to think a little deeper than I normally would...It is a good thing!

The photos below are the outcome of my contemplation. I showed it to some ladies I meet with at the beach on Tuesday evenings and they all loved it! What do you think??


Crab Fire Agate (Spiderweb Carnelian) nuggets wire wrapped with a herringbone weave in sterling silver
Handcrafted double linked chain made of handcrafted sterling silver jump rings
Handcrafted clasp to complete the design

Measures approximately 9" (chunky nuggets call for longer length) but can be adjusted to fit

If you wish to purchase this item, please click here to be taken to the listing.

This afternoon's muse visit...

The muse popped her head in this afternoon...She's been hiding out lately, but today's visit was quite fun! I never know what she has in store for me! It seems she was standing on her head when she came up with this one...I tell ya, she is a twisted soul! LOL

Focal bead is wire wrapped with a wire wrapped pendant below.
What is normally used as a wire wrapped pendant's bale is used as the pendants bale below.
I told ya she was twisted!
:)

Focal bead is wire wrapped with a wire wrapped pendant below.
What is normally used as a wire wrapped pendant's bale is used as the pendants bale below.
I told ya she was twisted!
:)

33mm Scene Jasper focal bead wire wrapped in 20ga dead soft square Sterling Silver
Freshwater Pearl Pendant wire wrapped in Sterling Silver.

Necklace strand:
Sterling Silver spacer beads
Scene Jasper puff coins
6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls strung on SoftFlex Premium Flex Wire

Handcrafted Sterling clasp

Necklace measures 20" from clasp to catch.

If you are interested in purchasing this necklace, please click here.

Look what my twisted Muse came up with this time! Double Bail Lace Agate Pendant...

I just LOVE Lace Agate! Don't you?? We picked up several a couple of weeks ago. We are having fun wrapping them!
This is something I dreamed up yesterday...It was quite an adventure trying to figure out how to make the design in my head become reality. LOL It took a couple of tries but I finally got it. I hadn't ever seen a double bail wrapped pendant before -- till now! Whew! I will come up with a necklace for it...I'm thinking something strung. hmmmmmmmm :)

Lace Jasper Pendant, Yellow Jade, Aquamarine and Wood Jasper

My latest necklace showcasing one of the pendants I wire wrapped last weekend.

Freeform 28mmx19mm Lace Jasper wire wrapped in Sterling Silver wire
Sterling Silver chain
Wood Jasper twist and heishi beads with Sterling spacer beads
Picture Jasper puff disks

Yellow Jade and Aquamarine chips
Sterling lobster clasp and .925 tag

Overall dimensions:
Pendant 1 7/8"h x 7/8"w on an 18" long chain

Interested in purchasing this one of a kind necklace?
Lace Jasper Pendant, Yellow Jade, Aquamarine and Wood Jasper

Midnight oil...Freeform Brecciated Jasper Pendant

Well, it seems my muse is a night owl!
This is my latest attempt at wire wrapping a freeform cab.




Freeform 42mmx18mm Brecciated Jasper wire wrapped in 20ga dead soft square Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver chain
Tiger Eye Rondelles with Sterling spacer beads
Picture Jasper puff rectangles
Yellow Jade and Picture Jasper chips
Sterling lobster clasp and .925 tag

Overall dimensions:
Pendant 2 3/8"h x 1 1/4"w on a 20" long chain

Interested in purchasing this one of a kind necklace?
Brecciated Jasper Pendant, Tiger Eye, Yellow Jade and Picture Jasper

New Classes!

Quick post...
I talked with the local bead shop earlier today about setting up some classes on the bridal jewelry. I'm excited! I will post days and times when they are established.

Blushing Bride - Crystals and Swarovski Pearls Earrings

I am so pleased with how these turned out! I have GOT to figure out how to put multiple photos of each listing on the website...Anyone care to kick some pointers my way??

Blushing Bride - Crystals and Swarovski Pearls Earrings

Are Spring Nuptials in your near future? If so, these glorious cluster earrings will be sure to put the finishing touch to YOUR day!

Petite sterling silver chain dripping with crystal chips and Swarovski Pearls carefully wire wrapped with sterling silver. All metal components (excluding chain) are personally hand formed in sterling silver. Clusters gracefully sway 1 1/4" below ear wires.

Coordinating Blushing Bride Crystals and Swarovski Pearls Necklace also available.

Bridal Jewelry!

I just added a BRIDAL JEWELRY section to my website! I am so excited! The muse seems to have returned from her extended hiatus. I have so many ideas racing through my head -- I just gotta let it out! LOL

Keep an eye out for the exciting things happening in this new line.

I hope everyone is enjoying the springtime...Summer will be upon us before we know it!

Community Concert!

Well, tomorrow is the day we have been practicing for! The Largo Community Chorus' Concert is tomorrow!

Man, I am here to tell ya! I have been singing lead and harmonizing (by ear) my entire life and this is THE most challenging singing experience I have EVER had...It is a good thing though! Almost like learning a new language -- expanding those horizons! I am seriously considering taking voice and sight music reading lessons. I use to take piano lessons so sight reading should be the next logical vocal step, right?? LOL Singing by ear and singing composed music are two entirely different ball games!!!!!!!!! I can do it though! I've committed and tomorrow is the day! YIPPEEEEE!!!!!! LOL It has been fun, but way more challenging than I ever dreamed it would be...Hopefully the voice and sight reading lessons will help make next fall's choir rehearsals easier....LET'S HOPE!

Besides getting ready for the concert, volunteering at the hospital on day a week, building a website, working on various work and home improvement projects and singing at a volunteer banquet, we've been working on the necklaces for the ladies in the choir to wear during the concert! BUSY BUSY!!!!!!!!!

I have a couple of things I need to post once we get through the concert...So, keep on the lookout! :)

Anybody seen Kat lately??

I know, I know...I've been way tooooooooooooo quiet over here, haven't I?

It seems I've been sucked into a black hole the past week! But, never fear, I've been around -- working on the new website. Thanks to a few folks offering their feedback and tech support I think we're getting closer to where I want to be! Although, there may be a big hurdle (said learning something new LOL) to clear soon with learning HTML and such...I'm all for learning something new...Learning it while having a day job - that makes it a little more interesting. LOL We'll get there though and learn a few things on the way!

A quick update - Thanks to tech support the IE issue (images not loading properly) has been resolved! :)

Feel free to pop over and have a look http://katscustomkreations.com/

Caught in the swishing waves...pic update

I just wanted to let everyone know that there has been a new pic added to the Caught in the swishing waves... post. :)

Oh, and to share this
awesome sunset!

What's more fun than a box of rocks...?

...DIGGING through a box of rocks!

We stopped in at a vendors market today that someone was telling me about the other day...Come to find out it had been going since at least November and their last day to be open is April 30th...I guess we need to leave the house more often!

There were a couple dozen tables set up that ranged anywhere from produce stand to personalized candy and stuff to candles and artwork and jewelry. We stopped at one table that had some sterling and stones and a tub of polished stones. I am like a kid in a candy store digging and digging! I picked out some and happily sauntered away with our little bag of goodies!

I asked her to write down what the names were so I could look them up to identify later: Lace Agate; Fancy Jasper; Red Moss Agate; Ocean Jasper; Lake Superior Agate; Brazilian Agate; Turrella Agate; Montana Agate...and one "mystery stone". LOL If you can find and identify it, let me know! :)

These should make some great pendants! What fun!

Website crash course...

Wow, I'm beginning to see why people pay someone to set up their websites -- there's a lot of work in it! LOL
I do believe it is meant to be a work in progress (kinda like housework -- it's never really FINISHED). That's a good thing though because you always have the chance to add to it and improve upon it.
Keep checking in on how it's coming along. I realize that I'm going to have to eventually learn HTML and set it up how I REALLY want, but for now I think I've got it to the point I can start adding more products to it. :)

http://katscustomkreations.com

Adventures in metal cutting...continued

This weekend was interesting! I did manage to work on a piece that the director of the community choir I am in asked me to work on for the ladies of the choir to wear the night of the concert. It still has some time to go in the tumbler, but it is coming along quite nicely!