something blue

A quick & dirty photo tutorial...

2010-07-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

Blossoming Bride EarringsI have been promising to write a "Photo for Dummies" type tutorial for ages now and here is a paired down version, FINALLY...These tips are mostly for shooting jewelry or small objects.1. Props; something that will enhance and not detract from the item you're shooting. Simple is best, in terms of color, texture and pattern. The item is the star of the photo, not the

And the winner is....

2010-04-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Fleur EarringsThe winner of the $100.00 Something Blue Shopping Spree is...Drumroll please...sarawithoutanh who wrote, "I am such a fan :)" 3/8/2010 @ 4:21pmCongratulations sarawithoutanh! Please contact me at: shopsomethingblue@att.net before Monday, April 5th to claim your prize :)And, as a small thank you to everyone who participated but didn't win, I am offering you (those of you who

Facebook Fan Giveaway!

2010-03-01T04:39:00.000-08:00

Micro Golden Citrine EarringsNow that the Something Blue Facebook Fan page has over 500 fans it's time to show all of you wonderful fans a little bit (well, actually a LOT!) of appreciation. So I've decided to host a fabulous giveaway and here's the scoop:The Prize: A $100.00 (one hundred dollar!) Gift Certificate to be used in my Etsy Shop!How to enter: Simply post a comment* here on my blog

An update...

2009-11-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pop in for a quick update....I have been working hard on that photography post and hope to have it up in the next couple of days. I apologize for the delay but hopefully it will be worth the wait!

WEEKEND DEALS!

2009-09-02T23:58:00.001-07:00

Virgo Medallion Necklace25% off + FREE worldwide shipping throughout the store!A great Labor Day weekend sale awaits you! This is the perfect time to do a little early Holiday shopping, but I bet you'll find something for yourself too...25% off plus FREE worldwide shipping!Don't wait! Visit my shop now...the sale ends Monday, September 7th, 2009.See you there!

The Etsy Experiment Revealed!

2009-08-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Does renewing really work?After reading several threads in the forums regarding renewing as a means to boost Etsy sales I decided I would do my own little experiment in my shop with renewing. I began this trial in March of 2009 and the experiment has been running now for almost a full 6 months. Many of the previous experiments I had read about in the forums were usually held for 1 week,

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

Bright Side Project Giveaway!"August is Sugar, Sugar month!"I am pleased to announce {and so honored to be included!} that the The Bright Side Project is featuring Something Blue this month and hosting a really fantastic giveaway donated by yours truly. In order to win all you need to do is answer a simple question (I'm not going to tell you what it is, you'll have to find that out by visiting

25 % off! STORE WIDE SALE!

2009-08-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Urban Winter necklace...on sale now at 25% off!I'm running a GREAT sale in my Etsy shop right now...25% off the entire shop until August 31st. Take a peek and find yourself a wonderful bargain! I'll be posting new sale items throughout the weekend...Visit Something Blue now!

Front Page Treasury

2009-05-08T22:51:00.000-07:00

I made the Front Page of Etsy today! What a great way to start the weekend...Now, off to write that post about my Etsy Experiment. Sorry to keep all 3 of you waiting!

My brief hiatus...or, why I've been neglecting my blog

2009-05-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

It's been awfully quiet around here...Wow, it's been almost two months since I last posted! I haven't fallen off the face of the earth but it sure feels like it. Remember that Etsy Experiment that I posted about back in March? Well, let's just say it was successful and that's one of the reasons I haven't had time to blog. But I'm back now and my next post will be all about the results of my

Do Something!

2009-03-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

OrganizingSorting the assortment I like to think I'm a pretty creative person. As a jewelry designer I see the potential 'creativeness' aka inspiration, in almost everything I see from the color or form of a plant or flower, to the texture and pattern of fabrics, to shadows cast on a long summer day etc, etc....So, when I saw Holly Becker's Creativity Series 8 (DO SOMETHING!) over at her

An Etsy Experiment...

2009-03-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

Green Glass Bauble Earringsavailable in my Etsy ShopOver the next week, Monday through Sunday, I'm going to test a little theory about Etsy. The theory (or it is a myth?) goes something like this; the more you list and renew the more sales you will have. So, the experiment will be to list and renew up to 5-10 times per day at various times during the day. The total cost for this experiment will

What I Want...

2009-03-05T09:55:00.001-08:00

Eames style office chairavailable at: AdvancedInteriorDesigns.comI have been lusting after this chair for ages. I love the simplicity of the design and the fact that it's white makes it the perfect chair for my studio. The chair pictured above is a knockoff of the original Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair."Aluminum Group chairs were originally developed in 1958 as a special

Obsessed

2009-03-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

Project Number 1Behold the current state of the built in bookshelf. Location: Living roomAt first glance the photo doesn't look so bad...but look closer Inspiration bookshelf. I love the contrasting color inside the shelves, the storage binsand all that...beauty.Real Simple O.K., I have a confession to make. I'm obsessed with organizing. It's a shame that obsession hasn't yet translated into

Peonies and other distractions...

2009-02-27T22:48:00.000-08:00

Peoniesa favoriteI have been remiss. Totally slacking my blogging duties. What can I say? It's been a busy month! And February only has 28 days after all...This month I have:1. Reached my Etsy sales goals and then some (I'll aim higher for March, I need a challenge)2. Stocked my Etsy shop with 125 items.3. Begun the daunting task of de-cluttering my life and becoming truly organized.4. Joined

FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-03T15:10:00.001-08:00

Micro Rhodolite Garnet Earrings in Gold fillavailable hereYou heard that right! As a 'feel the love' Valentine's Day gift to all my wonderful customers, I am offering FREE SHIPPING, worldwide <------that's everywhere, in my Etsy shop for the entire month of February!Now is the perfect time to find that special gift for yourself...or someone else! Happy shopping...

What the Hail?

2009-01-26T09:13:00.001-08:00

Hail...really???Last night, around 11:30 thunder struck and hail came crashing down. Without warning. It hadn't even been raining before that so it was quite a surprise. And pretty cool too. It was SO loud I thought for sure the peanut would wake up, but she didn't. It was accompanied by a profusion of thunder & lightening and the dogs thought they should probably bark but we kept them quiet

Three

2009-01-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Yeah, 3...it's the magic number. At least when it comes to my blog. I have been wanting a 3 column blog since I first started blogging and just never had the time or inclination to sit down and figure it out. But, thanks to Three Column Blogger, I finally did it! And it was SO easy. So, now I share the joy of 3 columns with you. Try it, you'll like it. They have step by step instructions

Be My Valentine...

2009-01-12T00:20:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day packagingSomething special from Something Blue I know it seems early to be thinking about Valentine's Day already...BUT, I just wanted to share.I'm offering complimentary Valentine's Day themed wrapping for all purchases in my Etsy shop until February 14th.Sweet!

Bon Iver

2009-01-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

Bon IverFor Emma, Forever AgoI rarely watch late night TV, although I do watch TV late at night. But the other night I caught Bon Iver (pronounced like bon hiver, 'good winter' in French) on David Letterman and I was riveted. Here was this rugged, rough around the edges...dare I say, unkempt looking fellow who looked as if he walked straight out of a cabin in Montana (he kinda did) playing an

Breakin' the law

2009-01-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

Ah, the carpool lane. There's really nothing like it on a weekday afternoon in L. A. So this afternoon while driving home from a lunch date with my daughter sleeping soundly in her carseat I barely noticed I was traveling at 80 miles per hour. Really, I wasn't going any faster than anyone else so it was easy to overlook. As I casually cruised along I suddenly noticed something in my peripheral

1000 Markets

2009-01-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

1000 MarketsA community of marketplaces...I just opened a shop on the new hand crafted site, 1000 Markets. It looks like it will be a great venue for selling my work and I'm excited to fill my shop with lots of lovely items. After all, Valentine's Day is just around the corner!From their "About Us" page:"Our merchants are small, independent, artisan businesses built by people who love their

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T14:08:00.001-08:00

Enjoying the warmth of the out door fire pitToasty...OK, I'm a day late in posting this but, better late than never, right? We had a nice, relaxing and quite civilized New Year's Eve. We celebrated with some friends who were kind enough to take pity on us by inviting us over to sit by the fire & eat a delicious meal...A glorious fireBBQ'd Tri tip with a home made chimichuri sauceYum!Organic

300

2008-12-31T15:38:00.000-08:00

300 heartsShow me the love...I had a couple of pretty simple, year end goals for my Etsy shop. 300 hearts and 50 sales and I reached 300 hearts yesterday! BUT, I'm still 2 shy of 50 sales...8 hours and 20 minutes to go. Will I make it?

Wile E. Coyote

2008-12-31T01:34:00.001-08:00

CoyoteCanis IatransIt's 1:30am...Really, I should be in bed right now. I just came in from a late night out...I drove home, alone on the dark and mostly deserted streets of Pasadena, the night before the busiest, most exciting night that Pasadena is host to, New Year's eve on Colorado Blvd. I stopped for a light and glanced to my right. Out of the corner of my eye I glanced a shadow moving in

Getting organized

2008-12-28T23:35:00.000-08:00

photo: marthastewart.comOrganized = Pure Bliss...As my profile reads, I'm a frustrated minimalist. What I mean by that is, I like less but have more. I like clean, empty surfaces yet am burdened by piles of papers and the this and that of life which seems to accumulate all around me. This is something that plagues my daily life and I am sick and tired of it...Now~ finally~ I'm going to do

StyleList

2008-12-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

Garnet Luster Necklace in Gold fillDelightful...Today I was featured on the StyleList Blog, a style guide website featuring celebrity style along with the latest trends, from hairstyles to fashion to shopping and yes...jewelry!You can read the article here (I'm just below Hugh Jackman...but, I'll spare you the puns): Something BlueThanks to Mallory Whitfeld at MissMalaprop.com who wrote the

Sincere Apologies....

2008-12-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

I feel like I must apologize for being such a slacker lately. I have neglected my blog for the past 6 weeks and I am truly sorry...please forgive me! Now, on to blogging like I've never blogged before. Ready? Set....GO!

Trifecta

2008-12-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

A Celestial Triangle...The Moon, Jupiter & Venus Won't happen again until 2012...so I had to take a picture.

Vignettes

2008-11-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Sea Shells & Pearls Vanity vignetteI love vignettes (at least that's what I refer to them as...tableaus perhaps?), the gathering of treasured objects displayed in one's home. I love arranging them in my own home and for me they are constantly changing, keeping things interesting and dissuading me from more drastic redecorating like painting the walls or rearranging the furniture (again!)When I

The Lake. To

2008-11-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

In spring of youth it was my lot To haunt of this wide world a spotThe which I could not love the less-So lovely was the lonelinessOf a wild lake, with black rock bound,And the tall pines that towered around.But when the Night had thrown her pallUpon that spot, as upon all,And the mystic wind went byMurmuring in melody-Then- ah then I would awake To the terror of the lone lake.Yet that terror was

Another Etsy Front Page

2008-11-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

Etsy Front Page 10/31/08 shopsomethingblueOriginally uploaded by Etsy Front PagersI can't believe my good fortune! I just figured out (yeah, I'm a little slow...) that the second treasury I ever made also made the Front Page of Etsy!This one was on the Front Page on Halloween, how cool is that? I'm over the moon and itching to get my hands on another treasury, soon :)

That's a lovely scent you're wearing...

2008-11-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

Fig Apricot eau de parfum by Fresh®available at SephoraOne of my absolute favorite perfumes is the Fig Apricot scent by Fresh.....I just can't get enough of it! It has this true, figgy-ness to it and the apricot blends perfectly. It's sweet, but not sickeningly so and has that delicious, clean smell. Fig Apricot Body Cream by Fresh®at SephoraFig Apricot Shower Gel by Fresh®also available at

Rockin' the vote!

2008-11-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

I voted today.... I hope you did too.

On the Front Page...again!

2008-10-29T00:48:00.000-07:00

Etsy Front Page10/28/08No sooner had I posted about my own treasury making the Front Page, that I (ok, not me personally...but rather my Carnelian Earrings) was/were on the Front Page! This is turning out to be a banner week for me at Etsy...yay! Thank you justCHARMING :)I need to rest now...

Front Page on Etsy!!!!!

2008-10-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

My first treasury...was on the Front Page 10/27/08!Many of you know by now I have a shop on Etsy where I sell a selection of my jewelry and headpieces....I joined almost 5 months ago and just recently, last Sunday to be exact, snagged my first ever treasury. If you're not familiar with an Etsy treasury you can read more about it here. Of course my theme was "Something Blue" and I pretty much

Just when I thought it was all over...

2008-10-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ta da!Lolly has arrivedIt started out like any other Wednesday. I dropped the peanut off at school, returned home and started on the breakfast dishes (pretty exciting so far, huh?) I had just taken out the kitchen trash and as I bent down to grab a new trash bag something caught my eye. Lolly had emerged! I was so excited! Mostly because I had all but given up on her. I was truly convinced

Think Pink!

2008-10-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

'Think Pink' charm braceletLook good...for a good cause!October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I have designed a few special "Think Pink" pieces to feature in my Etsy shop and 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure fund. If you've never visited their website do it today! They have a ton of information there including this Breast Self Exam guide which

Memories...

2008-09-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

Busch Gardens Yahoo Flume RideTropical section While talking with my Mom on the phone this morning she mentioned Marine Land...."Marine Land? Oh, yeah, I remember that place..." I said. Which led me to my next childhood theme park memory, Busch Gardens in Van Nuys, CA. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and one year my Dad bought season passes to Busch Gardens. Almost every night after

Quote of the day

2008-09-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Mint Chocolate Knot Apron Dressavailable from Plainly Janes on Etsyapple orchard. child's dressavailable from bustle on EtsyAfter being dressed in an adorable, hot pink tank top and super cute pair of tan shorts with flower and button appliques, my 2 1/2 year old daughter looked up at me with her big brown eyes and announced in the saddest little voice: "But I don't have a dress on...I can't

Garden Delight

2008-09-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

What kind of Caterpillar is this???Read more and find out! Just this past weekend, when my husband was out in the backyard trimming our Tangerine tree, he pointed out a very strange looking caterpillar on one of the branch cuttings. It looked like a lizard at first glance and kind of gave me the creeps...but, I decided it would be fun to keep it in an acrylic box (handy for more than just beads

New Packaging & Branding!

2008-09-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

New packaging v.4hmmm, I wonder what's inside?...After many years of the same simple (but beautiful) packaging I decided it was time for an upgrade. I'd had a new identity package put together a couple of years ago, which included tags, so I wanted to utilize those in the new packaging and branding. A few prototypes later...and here it is! I'm now using gloss finish, two part jewelry boxes and

Weekly Feature 5: Something Blue

2008-09-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Because everyone needs a little 'Something Blue' in their life...In my DREAMSI came across evesimone on Etsy just the other day and was blown away by her uniquely beautiful photography. Her keen sense of color and raw compositions are so intriguing, I can't take my eyes off of them.Eve was kind enough to share what inspires her, among other things:Q: How would you describe your style?A: I try to

First Day of School

2008-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I sent my little sweetheart to school for the first time today, sniff, sniff. She's barely two and a half and this is the FIRST time I have ever dropped her off somewhere other than with her Grandparents. She didn't want me to go, she cried a sad little cry and said "No Mommy, you stay here." Which broke my heart into a million little pieces.As I turned around to leave I

Crocs...Really?......Still???

2008-08-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

IHateCrocs.comCroc shake anyone?I don't think words can adequately express my feelings about Crocs any better than the photo above. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words (although I'm certain I could come up with far more than that if I had the time or the inclination). Let me just say, I hate them, they're aesthetically offensive and people should stop wearing them. Now.

Quote Of The Day

2008-08-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Mall of America Large enough to hold 32 Boeing 747s"Shopping at the mall is for teenagers and people from Minnesota"

Design Preview: Fall 2008...

2008-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Golden Crocus EarringsGorgeous, Green TourmalineFor the last few weeks I have been designing and creating tons of new pieces for the Something Blue Fall Collection...I know what you're thinking, a little late, huh? After all, Fall is just around the corner! But circumstances beyond my control, read: toddler underfoot, have kept me from dedicating the quiet time, reflection and physical presence

Getting to Know You...

2008-08-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

While undertaking the daunting task of organizing my files (this hasn't been done since my daughter was born, 2+years ago!) I came across an article I tore out of the Real Simple Nov. 2005 issue. The article, titled "Getting to Know You", was written by Erik Jackson and is a kind of roadmap made up of intriguing questions, some many people would never think to ask, yet would love to know about

First Treasury Feature!

2008-08-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

My first Treasury Feature on EtsyLuminesse EarringsI awoke this morning to an e-mail from clearcutcrafts2007 (who, by the way, have some really beautiful, 3D butterflies in their shop) alerting me to the gorgeous treasury they featured me in. I think, and this really is my unbiased opinion, that this treasury is definitely worthy of the Front Page on Etsy....time will tell!What a great way to

Recharging

2008-08-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Big Bear LakeI'm off to Big Bear for the weekend! I'm making the 2 hour drive with a friend and meeting two other friends there. The four of us will be staying in a cozy, but very roomy cabin right on the lake. Because we are all moms of toddlers our plan is to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING while we're there...I am really looking forward to that! The only thing work related I plan to do is sketching,

Weekly Feature 4: Something Blue

2008-08-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

Because everyone needs a little "Something Blue" in their life...Sea Blu, necklaceI think I can hear the ocean...This week's featured artist is jewelry designer, Dawn, from Moondawn Designs. She came to jewelry making in an interesting way and you can read all about it here in her profile on Etsy. Dawn's designs are eclectic and delicate with a vintage feeling. When I asked Dawn about her

Nanalan'

2008-08-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

MonaI stumbled across this delightful children's show, Nanalan' about a year ago. Back then, my now 2+ year old daughter wasn't watching TV, but I was! This tale of a curious 3 year old named Mona is so enchanting and creative, I couldn't take my eyes off of it.Mona stays with her Nana during the day while her Mom is at work. Nana is, well, a nana in every sense of the word. She sings funny

Weekly Feature 3: Something Blue

2008-07-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Because everyone needs a little "Something Blue" in their life...Sky Filled with Poppies, sugar & creamer setSo sweet Today's Something Blue feature is Alina Hayes whose pottery & jewelry has an ethereal quality to it, so beautiful...and I'm in love with the unexpected flower elements she uses. Now a fellow Californian, Alina is originally from New York. She has some wonderful items in her Etsy

What a weekend!

2008-07-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

Vintage tiara combAt the risk of this turning into a post about how miserably hot it was this weekend, I shall instead focus on what got done around here (and when I say "here" I mean my humble abode/workspace)First and foremost, I listed almost all of the SaMpLe SaLe items on Etsy! That took most of Saturday and thankfully the husband entertained the child for most of the day (thanks honey).The

Weekly Feature 2: Something Blue

2008-07-21T08:30:00.001-07:00

Beach Cottage Shabby signGrab your towel and a good book! Well, here it is already week 2 and I'm thrilled to share with you my latest "Something Blue" find from Signs by Diane. These wonderfully charming signs are all hand crafted by Diane & her husband Pete in Bucks County, PA. I came across Diane's beautiful signs perusing Etsy where you can see many more of her lovely creations. Romantic

Party on the bridge

2008-07-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday evening we headed over to the Colorado Street Bridge (aka Suicide Bridge) for the annual "Bridge Party". This event is put on by Pasadena Heritage, a truly valuable organization dedicated to preserving & protecting the historic, architectural, and cultural resources in Pasadena. Not only is this always a really fun evening but just by attending you get to help a good cause, what

A work in progress...part 2

2008-07-17T17:09:00.001-07:00

Well, it's not a hugely noticeable difference, but progress has been made! The backyard studio and home of Something Blue, is looking better, if only slightly. The before picture is at the bottom of this post, in an attempt to spare you from too much scrolling (thoughtful, aren't I?)My husband installed the new fence, which not only looks great but keeps the oh-so-nosey neighbors at bay. And as

Mini Moo cards have arrived!

2008-07-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

I received my first order of Mini Moo cards on Monday and I must say I'm quite pleased! The quality is far better than I expected. Even the box they're packed in is pretty cool. It's a hard, white plastic that will certainly be useful long after the cards are gone. I can't wait to start handing these out and including them with my orders. My only complaint is that the reverse side text is not

Weekly Feature: Something Blue

2008-07-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

From here on out I'll be doing a weekly "Something Blue" feature showcasing the wonderful artisans whose work, like mine, is available on Etsy. This feature's theme will be...you guessed it, the color blue. It happens to be one of my favorite colors (surprised?) so why not indulge my visual senses, and yours of course, with this new weekly feature?With great pleasure, allow me to introduce Bird

Magically Delicious

2008-06-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's been damn hot here lately, and that's putting it mildly...um, 104º anyone? So, the other day I was perusing the ice cream aisle at my neighborhood grocery and happened upon a new Haagen Daz "Reserve" flavor, Fleur de Sel Caramel. I was intrigued to say the least. The description; Fleur de Sel caramels covered in a chocolaty coating blended into caramel ice cream with carmel ribbons and,

A work in progress...

2008-06-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am lucky enough to have my very own studio. Sure, I have to give it up when guests arrive but mostly it's mine...ALL mine. It doubles as a guest house, has a bathroom with a shower and is a fairly compact unit measuring about 170 square feet. It took ages to renovate the inside, (at least that's what it felt like) mostly because my fabulously talented husband did it all on his own, and he has

Another one bites the dust

2008-06-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

While strolling through Old Town Pasadena last night I happened to notice that the well established Delacey's Club 41 has closed. I have no idea how long it's been closed as I rarely have time to "stroll" anywhere these days, least of all Old Town. But, there it was, doors locked, windows covered in brown paper, the neon sign no longer flickering. No more table side Ceasar salads for me, sniff,