How to say Thank You in a more creative way

While I was in the shower tonight I got to thinking about all the custom pieces I've been making lately.  And one of the things I started thinking about was how great these pieces are for saying thank you to someone.  So here is a little list I put together of people that you might want to say thank you to in a more creative way than the norm:

• babysitter...have a custom steampunk pendant made with your kids birthstones and some things she really likes (examples: stars, moons, music, etc)
• teacher...a simple necklace with a few pretty stones to wear instead of candles or gift baskets
• a friend who has recently helped you out...a pair of earrings that are not like ones you can get at a store
• bridesmaids...after a wedding give them a steampunk pendant with the stone that symbolizes the month you were married
• a friend who is down on their luck...a pendant with stones that are known for improving luck
• a therapist who has really helped you...a necklace with stones that symbolize clarity or focus
• a mother or mother-in law that has helped with a baby shower...a steampunk pendant with the little one's birthstones
• a friend who helped you move...a bracelet with their favorite color stones
• a hairdresser who did your hair for a special occasion...a pendant with bright stones

Here are some of the custom pieces that I have recently made just to give examples:

Labradorite pendant

Pendant made with the person's personal stones

Custom steampunk pendant symbolizing the family for mom

And the daughter's family steampunk pendant

Talisman pendant for good luck

Earrings were made custom to match the necklace

Earrings made custom to match the necklace

Bracelet for increasing luck in all areas of one person's life

A birthstone necklace for someone's loved one

A birthstone pendant made for the wife of a very thoughtful husband

A necklace to match a pair of earrings that were won in a silent auction of mine

And these are just a few...there are sooo many more I've made.  

Boy do I love getting diamonds in the mail :)

What a great find in my mailbox today!  I got diamonds :)  And of course, the minute they came in I had to start playing around with them figuring out what I wanted to make.

I made three different pendants tonight.  None are listed yet on Etsy but I've put previews up on Facebook.  And I'll share them here too :)

Here is the first one. 

And the second one

And the final one :)

Busy with a capital B!

Shipments of supplies in = me making lots of new things!  And between things to do with my girls and my hubby and now making new things means I am busy with a capital B!!!

I've made quite a few new pieces in time for Valentine's Day...and sold quite a few too.  Here are the recent additions to the Etsy shop:
This stunning pendant is  "Fever". It is a long glass tube vial filled with over 1 carat genuine rough bright yellow diamonds with a red round cut diamond that stays stationary in it. So packed with diamonds that they don't move around much at all. The pendant is reversible, you can either wear it to show the red diamond or on the other side you only see the yellow rough diamonds. You'll can get a different look out of it each time you wear it. Such a beautiful pendant and so unique. You are going to be more than happy making these a part of your jewelry collection! If you are a lover of all things unique and one of a kind, something like no one else will ever have, then this is for you!! These pendants are hard to photograph because of the glass but the red diamond in here is bright and deep in color. The contrast between the red and the yellow is just spectacular! You'll love it!!   http://www.etsy.com/listing/92052374/captured-love-fever-genuine-red-round

And this beautiful pendant (one of my all time favorites) is  "Perfect". It is a long glass tube vial filled with over 2 carats of bright, rough mixed white diamonds and a .15 carat genuine light pink radiant cut diamond. And just to note, my scale weighs light, so the rough diamonds most likely weigh much more than what my scale says. This pendant is sealed and cannot be opened. The bail on this pendant is 925 sterling silver. It hangs beautifully, and is reversible...the other side is open just like the front with the pink diamond but you'll only see the white rough diamonds. The pink diamond does not move as the rough diamonds are tightly packed in there to hold it in place. Such a beautiful pendant and so unique. You are going to be more than happy making these a part of your jewelry collection! If you are a lover of all things unique and one of a kind, something like no one else will ever have, then this is for you!! These pendants are very hard to photograph. The pink diamond is so light in color and has amazing sparkle to it. Pink diamonds are normally very expensive and since I was able to get this at a fantastic price, I am able to make something that is affordable for you. :)   http://www.etsy.com/listing/92077456/captured-love-perfect-genuine-15-carat

This one features one of the largest cut diamonds I can fit into a glass vial pendant and is named  "Always". It is a long glass tube vial filled with .42 carats of bright, rough mixed white diamonds, .40 carats of bright yellow rough diamonds, and a .41 carat deep orange oval cut diamond (which is technically considered to be a half carat solitaire). And just to note, my scale weighs light, so the rough diamonds most likely weigh about twice what my scale says. This pendant is sealed and cannot be opened. It hangs beautifully, diamonds moving in the tube so that every move of your body shows a different look. The orange diamond stays pretty much right in the middle of the white and yellow diamonds. But they all move around freely so you'll get a different look out of it each time you wear it. Such a beautiful pendant and so unique. You are going to be more than happy making these a part of your jewelry collection! If you are a lover of all things unique and one of a kind, something like no one else will ever have, then this is for you!! These pendants are very hard to photograph. The orange is so bright and deep in color. Very unique!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/92056446/captured-love-always-genuine-41-carat

And these stunning beauties sold today, pretty much as quick as they were listed:
"Patriotic"

"Spirit"

And this one, which was a custom pendant made like "Pride"

So as you can see...busy busy busy!

Diamonds are a girls best friend ;)

Nothing excites me more than opening my mail box and finding diamonds in it!  LOL  Today I got a great shipment in the mail...blue marquise diamonds and round red diamonds.  So beautiful!  And of course I had to make things right away. 

One of my favorite ways to showcase diamonds is by mixing rough and cut diamonds.  The pendants I made today are similar to ones I have made before but still very different and very unique.  Recently I sold a stunning blue round cut and white rough diamond pendant on Etsy.  It was very, very popular so I wanted to make something that caught eyes the way that one did.  So I made these lovelies.

This one is a blue marquise cut diamond with lots of larger yellow diamonds surrounding it...so packed that they don't move.  This pendant is reversible...one side shows the blue and yellow, the other shows only the yellow. 

Then after it was made I thought about how pretty the yellows would look with a little round cut red diamond.  And boy was I right, what a pairing.  I just wish the red showed just how bright it is in the pictures.

After that I thought about how I also like the diamonds to be free moving so I paired up a blue marquise, red round, and clear (white) round cut diamond and get a stunning, unique, patriotic pendant that will get everyones attention.

And finally I found in my drawer of goodies a .41 carat deep orange oval cut diamond that I didn't know at the time what I wanted to do with so I got creative with it too.  I mixed it in with larger yellow rough diamonds and little white rough diamonds and came up with this stunner.

They can't be found on Etsy just yet, but if you see one you like I can give you a price.  :)  And with Valentine's Day coming up...keep in mind guys...diamonds are a girls best friend ;)

TGIF: end of a busy week!

This has been such a busy week for me!  Normally my weeks are kind of slow, not much going on and not much leaving the house, but this one...whew!  Glad it is Friday!!

The silent auction on my Facebook page to clear out some inventory went well.  Glad to be making some room on Etsy so I can get some Valentine's Day stuff listed.  Put more items on sale on Etsy and created a whole new section just for Valentine's Day (this link should take you right to it:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DirtyGirlDiamonds?section_id=10643100).  Everything in there is heart shaped or has to do with love and romance.  A word to all you men out there trying to figure out what to get your love for V Day...women love jewelry!  And nothing shows more thought than something that was handmade (even if by someone else) or custom made just for her. 

Speaking of custom made, this week has been busy with custom pieces.  One I still have to finish but two are done and on their way.  This is one that was made that I have to admit, I absolutely love!  This is going to be a gift for a very lucky lady on her birthday and is a 34.12 carat genuine amethyst:

Talk about a stunner!  I hope she loves it too!!
Then there was this necklace that I made.  Sunstone and a sun face on silver plate.  Really turned out nicely and matches perfectly the earrings that were won in the Pet Helpers silent auction:

I love doing custom work.  Besides the fact that it gives me a chance to create something new, it also is amazing to see other people's creativity come through in what they are looking for.  Plus there is such an amazing feeling that I get when I make something for someone that makes them happy.  I actually feel like an artist when I get to do this.  :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Working on some things :)

So my New Year's resolution is still going strong.  I'm still working on me and getting back to the me that I want to be.  So far so good. 

One of the biggest parts of that is making changes in me to make me happier.  I'm letting go of somethings and embracing others.  Letting go for me is kind of hard.  I've learned to hold on to angers of the past as reminders of what I don't want in my life.  But I think by holding on to those reminders I've held myself back.  Kept myself in a constant source of pain even though I never really thought about it that way before.  So I'm letting go.  And it feels good.

I'm working on some things here at the house.  Cleaning out and clearing out...slowly.  Working on things with Gracie...trying to get her on a more regimented schedule with time limits to hopefully help with her ADHD and making new friends.  And I'm working on new pieces of jewelry and working on clearing out some old inventory.  I'm doing a silent auction on Facebook...ends tonight...to help with that.  Here is the link to that album:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/87995055/sale-30-off-new-life-oceans-keeper

So I just keep on working on things...and so far, I'm liking the results.  :)
(Here is one piece I just finished...not listed yet)

Another passion of mine...pets!

I have always been an animal lover for as long as I remember.  It is all thanks to my dad.  I have a huge soft spot for any animal needing help, as my mom still jokes...I was always bringing home the strays (which included in her mind my ex boyfriends).  From the time I was a baby we had a dog.  Then as I grew older we had other pets...a guinea pig, fish, hamsters, other dogs...and then there was our baby raccoon.  Long story short a mother raccoon was killed and we got special permission to raise her 1 day old baby.  Rascal was one of the best pets ever.  But he had to be released back into the wild before he turned 1 year old.  Then there was a baby squirrel, Chichi,  that we raised and released into our back yard.  For a while he'd come visit, but then he stopped.  And my baby duck who was blind, Henry, who despite the vets prognosis got his sight back, but then had to be put to sleep due to an infection that was killing his bill and feet.  Then I had a ferret and a few rats....all wonderful pets but passed on in their time.  Then I had my cats, Yoshi and Chezi, both Oriental Shorthairs...one of the two breeds that I am not allergic to that bad.  Yoshi was my baby, my first ever cat and my first pet while out on my own.  Age caught up with him and we lost him two years ago this month.  And now, 2 dogs and 1 cat.  Our two dogs are both rescues, Bella and Cocapuff (Poof for short), and both came from Pet Helper Inc.  Our cat, Kage, is an Oriental and one of the sweetest guys ever.

We have helped to foster dogs through Pet Helpers, which is something that I love doing.  Bella was actually a foster of my husband's before we got together, and he decided that she had found her home with him.  Fostering is such a rewarding experience all around.  For Jed and I, we are getting to help out with animals that need a home while looking for their forever home.  The girls are learning what it means to help animals.  Yes I think they'd love all the animals to stay here forever, but they are learning that what they are doing by playing with the dogs and showing them love while they wait for their homes is an important thing and keeps them out of shelters and possibly keeping them from their deaths. 

One of the things that I think a lot of people don't realize is how many pets are out there looking for homes, and how many are being put down because shelters can't find homes for them.  That is why rescue groups like Pet Helpers are so important.  The organization is all run by volunteers.  There is no shelter, only foster families.  Pet Helpers takes care of vet bills for the animals they take in, which in some cases can run into the $1000 or more range, and provides the foster families with the things they need for the animals they take in...puppy pads, litter, food, toys, collars, leashes, crates, kiddie pools for birthing, etc.  And all of this is made possible from donations and fund raisers.

That is why I am doing the silent auction for them.  Any little bit that we can make for them will really help out.  And 30% of all sales will be going directly to Pet Helpers.    All items will be starting at only $3...and if something sells for that amount that means Pet Helpers gets $0.90.  Might not sound like a lot at first but think of it this way...that will by a couple cans of cat food, or a couple cans of dog food, or almost 1 toy or collar at the dollar store.  Or pay for postage on two letters that they have to send out. 

So here is the info on the silent auction and how you can not only help Pet Helpers but also get some great jewelry for yourself:
* The items will be visible at 8:30am tomorrow (1/17) morning in the following album (currently you can view preview pics here):  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.359086500774568.105461.163803963636157&type=3
* Bidding will be from 8:30 am until 10pm on 1/17.  You can bid by either commenting right on the photo or by email if you are not a Facebook member or want your bids to remain anonymous.  The email to send your bids to is:  dirtygirldiamonds@yahoo.com   Winners will be contacted after 10pm by either email (if that is how you bid) or right on the photo if you bid there.
* If you need items shipped it will cost a flat rate of $3 for items in the US and $5 for outside of the US.  All payments need to be paid by paypal or arranged by other means with me.  If you are local we will arrange to meet and you can pay by cash, check, or credit card.
* There are no set bidding increments, bid however you like.
* Most importantly, please remember this is to raise money for Pet Helpers and even a small bid will help :)

Any questions can be emailed right to me.  Hopefully Wednesday I'll have great things to report back!!!

One other things before I go...Saturday on Facebook I did my Shout Out Saturday.  Here it is, please check her shop out...her things are really amazing!

Shout Out Saturday featured business: Simple Minded Bath Co.
Clarksburg, WV. She started it because she has very sensitive skin and had a hard time finding anything that she could use. Everything... she uses in her soaps and lotions are all organic and premium ingredients. I personally love the solid lotions, I use the one named Tan Lines and let me tell you…it smells sooooo great and isn’t greasy at all (a big pet peeve of mine of most lotions). She has an Etsy shop where you can find her wonderful products http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimpleMindedBathCo and she will sell locally (I’m picking up some soap from her tomorrow). And she has a great sale going on right now so don’t miss it! You can also find her shop page here on FB at http://www.facebook.com/SimpleMindedBathCo?sk=info and when you like her page, let her know you found her through DirtyGirlDiamonds. Not only are her products wonderful, but so is she! I know for sure you won’t be disappointed so please check out Simple Minded Bath Co.

Out with the old, in with the new

All the decorations are down, put up till next Christmas.  It always seems so bleak the day after taking down the tree.  Some decorations went out as we didn't use them this year, making their way out as donations. 

Keeping with my back to me theme I set up a massage yesterday for a couple weeks from now and I'm really looking forward to it.  Pretty excited about the fact that this Friday I'll be getting my first facial in probably 5-6 years (thank you dad for that awesome Christmas gift!).  And I set up for 2/1 my first ever microdermabrasion (thank you hubby for the amazing Christmas gift...this and the massage).  And I bought a new scale yesterday...that I have yet to venture upon...gulp! 

I'm getting ready to weed out my clothes yet again and get rid of some of the old stuff.  And go through kitchen stuff and my desk and do the same.  I always feel in that mood in the first of the year.  Out with the old.  :)

Same goes for my shop on Etsy.  I'm trying to clear out some of my older stuff so I can make some room for new.  I have some big sales going on, including 4 items I just put on 50% off sale last night:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/85479123/50-off-sale-captured-love-untraditional
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84890261/50-off-sale-enrapture-loving-gift
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88457395/50-off-new-life-lifes-celebration
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87010340/50-off-adorned-flutter-genuine-green
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88296987/50-off-sale-lush-baubles-stunning-round

And I just sent out my first news letter yesterday for DirtyGirlDiamonds.  It is a once a month email news letter that I'm putting together.  I think it turned out pretty well.  And of course, if anyone reading this would like to get on the list just shoot me an email at dirtygirldiamonds@yahoo.com
I have special promotions, event updates, whats new in the world of DirtyGirlDiamonds, and more in it.

I was pretty slack and missed my Monday and Tuesday blog (gonna have to set a reminder lol) so I missed posting my Shout out Saturday from Facebook.  Something I am doing every Saturday to showcase businesses that I like be it from Etsy or elsewhere.  Here was this past Saturday's shout out:
Hoku Gallery
If you love beautiful handmade jewelry (which face it, you do or you wouldn’t be here lol), you really need to check out what is being made by Diane Gerbert-Ballum. Diane has a shop on Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/shop/hokugallery, where she has some of the most beautiful creations. My personal favorite is Teal Rainbows (check it out, AMAZING). From NH, she lived in HI for 18 years but moved back to home 3 years ago to be closer to family. She is married with a step son and has 3 grandsons. She started making jewelry back in 1990 and has just started teaching herself chainmaille…check it out, it absolutely amazes me! She buys only the best components she can for making her jewelry, and takes pride in doing the best work she can. Don’t forget to find her page here on FB and like it (let her know you saw her Shout Out on here): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hoku-Gallery/218473754830433
 
I'm also getting ready for the silent auction that I am doing on Facebook next Tuesday.  (I'll talk about it more tomorrow)  So I better get off here and get to work on those items as I still have 2 to finish.  :) 

And I just finished up a custom piece.  I LOVE the way it turned out!!

Holidaze and the recovery

Christmas and New Years seemed to fly by.  Partially because of things that never should have been, but also because of great times with family.  I was able to make a few things of those days, but even more since.  That was all thanks to lots of deliveries made to me during that time.  But for the most part...all of that time is now a daze.

I have several new things I am working on...a silent auction that will be on facebook sometime before the end of January to help my favorite pet rescue group, Shout Out Saturday where I will be doing special shout outs to businesses on FB that I personally like, Facebook Fan 50% off Friday sales, and special sales each month on hand picked items on Etsy...plus finding shows so I can get out there more. 

And then there are my New Years resolutions.  I decided to do things a bit different this year with my resolutions.  I made just one biggie....to get back to the me I was and want to be again.  For me that is so much more than the normal loose weight, get fit, get organized, etc...that is to get back to the me that I liked best.  The me that was more outgoing, stood my ground and put up a fight if necessary, didn't take sh*t from anyone unless I deserved it me.  I will not allow myself to fall into a passive quiet shadow that I was falling into...I'm going to be the stand up for myself woman that I had been.  And anyone that doesn't appreciate me being me can, well, get over it.

So I'm working on that...and it is a slow process.  When you tell yourself so long that you aren't that person anymore because you don't see that person in the mirror any longer, it takes a while to get back there.  Work in progress, work in progress, work in progress...my mantra LOL

But I will do it.  Just as I've rediscovered my love for making jewelry, I am going to rediscover myself.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday time and that you are finding the New Year bringing you all that you long for.

A new piece just added today...well actually...6 :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85488116/captured-love-key-to-heaven-open-cage

The meaning is in the details

Anyone who has read my Etsy descriptions will have seen by now that I am really big on the meanings of stones.  Making jewelry has not only been a creative process for me by designing the pieces, but also in picking out what goes together and what I buy for their meanings.

I've learned a great deal about stones by looking them up.  It amazes me how many meanings, how many healing functions, and what myths surround stones. 

I just wanted to share a few that I found interesting...and the pieces that go with them:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84921380/new-life-gallaxy-genuine-1-carat-diamond
Diamonds represent faithfulness, love, purity, innocence, and relationships filled with love. It removes certain types of deviations in the aura, which can be best imagined as sort of voids, and diamond fills them with the pure energy of love. It inspires creativity, ingenuity, inventivity, faith, endurance, and helps in manifesting abundance in all areas of life. Diamond is a symbol of the richness of the Self. As the hardest mineral of all, it is especially esteemed owing to its beauty, purity, and ability to reflect light in a special manner. Diamond brings purity, and clear positive resolution of all problems that bother us, especially after we have become willing to admit our wrong perceptions and approaches, or our unreal expectations. More info on diamonds: The Hindu tradition relates diamonds to the planet Venus, while some other ancient peoples believed that they are connected to the planet Mars. The later is probably due to the warriors' custom of wearing diamond stones in battle for protection and strength. It was thought that diamonds make the warriors invincible and that they fortify their muscles. In favor of this thesis speaks the Greek word for diamond - adamas - which means invincible. The diamonds have been called kings of all crystals, stones of the mind and gemstones of the masters. This is no doubt, the most powerful crystal imaginable in the domain of metaphysics. It is able of reaching deep into us and opening much more spiritual doors than any other stone. Even more than that, diamond is able to bring abundance and fulfillment of the desires or undertaking you can only dare to imagine. If you dare to dream your own and true destiny, diamond is here to help you accomplish it.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88181020/enrapture-out-of-the-blue-stunning
Sodalite is said to reestablish inner peace and harmony. Helps to end confusion and unite the logical with the spiritual. A good stone for ending conflict and aiding in communication skills. Balances emotions and calms insomnia.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89118709/lush-energy-genuine-labradorite-and-925
Labradorite helps to remove negativity for people and their immediate environment. It helps you to find the ability to think clearly in any situation and teaches you the ability to work in balance and harmony with others. Astrological Sign: Scorpio, Sagittarius, Leo. Element: Water. An excellent gemstone for those seeking to bring your diet, health and exercise habits under control because it regulates your metabolism and jump starts your energy levels to get your moving. Allow it and a labradorite gemstone will teach you how valuable you are as a spiritual being. It will release your in securities about yourself, your powers and your abilities and give you a sense of inner worth and strength of will.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89121091/lush-luna-amazing-genuine-moonstone
Moonstone: Known as the stone of Hope. It is said if you give your lover a moonstone necklace when the moon is full you will always have passion with each other. Moonstone is a highly valued gemstone for these reasons:

Brings good fortune
Assists in foretelling the future
Enhances intuition
Promotes inspiration
Brings success in love as well as business matters
Offers protection on land and at sea

The moonstone is associated with the moon and was the stone of the goddess Diana. The most powerful time to use the moonstone is in a full moon.

It has been worn as an amulet to bring good emotions to the wearer, while protecting those of a sensitive nature. It can reunite lovers who have quarreled. Moonstone is also considered a good luck stone.

Moonstone is a very personal stone. It is a reflection of the person who owns it. It does not add or detract, only shows how it is. This is why the moonstone is said to perceive that which "is". Moonstone is an excellent stone to use in meditation to understand oneself. Placing it in the moonlight of a moon reaching its fullness, not a full or waning moon, can revitalize it. This is a particularly good gemstone for women. It is a good stone for young women or teenagers.

Healing properties of Moonstone
Moonstone is used by healers to stimulate the functioning of the pineal gland and balance internal hormone cycles with nature's rhythms. Moonstone is a stone of inner growth and strength. Though often considered to be a woman's stone, it can be beneficial to men in opening the emotional self.

Little girls and jewelry...yes or no???

While making pieces tonight for my new Collection, Lush, I decided to make something with a little girl in mind (or a woman with a really little wrist if that is the case).  I did that because my oldest daughter, Gracie, who is 7, is getting more and more into jewelry. 

Most kids jewelry is pretty cheap, and any mom can tell you why that is....they break it or loose it easily.  And yes my daughter is guilty of that with both the cheap stuff and some of the good stuff.  But there is one piece of jewelry that she has really taken care of.  It is the "wedding" ring that my husband, her step dad, gave her the day we got married. 

Jed and I got married on a beach in Key West, Florida just this past February.  We were on a Disney Cruise that we took for this very reason.  We were able to take our girls, Gracie and Abby, and have both our wedding and honeymoon all together.  As a special surprise for Gracie, we had the ceremony include vows from Jed to her.  During those vows (him promising to raise her as his own and love and care for her for life) he presented her with a little white gold diamond ring.  The ring featured two hearts with a diamond in each and little diamonds on the sides.  She was so in awe and it made for such a special memory. 

She knows what a special thing that ring is.  She understands what it stands for and she wears it every day.  And I think when something has such a special meaning behind it, even young kids appreciate it and take better care of things. 

That is why I made the bracelet I made today, with that in mind.  My thoughts behind it were no matter what the meaning is to you...be it a wedding, a special birthday, graduation from one grade to another, or just a symbol of love...even little girls deserve to have a special piece of jewelry.  And it doesn't have to be expensive, it just has to have meaning. 

So I'd love to hear you opinions on jewelry for kids...do your girls wear jewelry? What is something special they have? 

Here is what I made today, with my daughter in mind:

 

And here is a very special picture of Gracie showing off her ring on our wedding day :)