My site is almost ready! Granted it pretty much depends on the hosting sites ability to work properly...
My next steps.. register buisness name, get master buisness license, vendors permit though I don't know if I need one I think its best to have it anyways.. I need a business number, a business account, I am going to get a business credit card. I need some sort of GST PST thingy (as you can tell I am really clear on that one)
Some people said to just sell on Ebay or Etsy and that is all fine and dandy but I want something that is my own, my creation - my baby so to speak . I wonder if I was a selfish child? mine mine mine mine. It's not that I don't want to share the glory.. its just that I don't want to share the glory :|.. lets hope for some glory!
My stuff is great, I have only been making jewelry since October 2009 and I keep getting better (my mom told me so!)
I think if the person has it in them to create, regardless of what they are creating. well they will accomplish only as much as they think they will. I think I will.. now to get some random A list celebrity to wear my stuff...I know there are many out there that love animals... I think anything is possible. Pam Anderson is Canadian.. hmmm...
Anyways, I need to start selling soon so I can get money to buy better stuff to make better stuff to sell for higher prices so I can then get even better stuff... mmm diamonds.....hey a girl can dream!
I have goals I want to meet, the first one is to get the website the way I want it, the second is to launch it. After that there are many more.
-I want to be in select stores ( the small really cool ones)
-I want to make my own silver creations ( Need education on that one and a kiln )
- I want to be hypo allergenic .. I am allergic to many base metals and it is rather annoying when you don't no for sure what is in the chain you buy... sure they say nickle free but I am still reacting to it!. Basically that means I want to work only with Silver, Gold, Rhodium, and absolutely certified nickel free materials. I think copper and brass are ok as well. So more education is needed on that as well.
- I want to be able to donate 10% of my sales to a select animal rescue..and I want that amount to be something I can be proud of
-I want to be known for my artistic abilities and I want people to appreciate my talent
- Most of all - I want to be successful and able to provide for myself without help from my wonderful family, I want to be able to have savings, see a future that is bright and has possibilities in it.
-One more thing... I want a house!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
work work work
So I have been working on my website trying to get it up and ready to launch as a store. Problem is it's a hell of a lot of work, but it will be worth it. I am using Vistaprint as a website template and it really is a great program - just make sure you buy the premium package because I am quickly finding out that I did good by doing that because the lower priced ones have limited pages allotted and I already have .. well I haven't actually counted but it's a lot!
I will be glad when I have caught up on the pictures and information, then I will only have to add a few pages when I make new stuff... and of course I will have time to actually make new stuff which I have been lacking as well.
I am glad it's Spring because I am not a huge fan of the dull gray cold winter months.. but on the other hand I am going to want to be outside and it would be tricky to get my work table out on my imaginary patio...
I do plan on getting back to the alphabet I remember I am at P...I plan on doing Pearls or Pyrite.
Till then.
I will be glad when I have caught up on the pictures and information, then I will only have to add a few pages when I make new stuff... and of course I will have time to actually make new stuff which I have been lacking as well.
I am glad it's Spring because I am not a huge fan of the dull gray cold winter months.. but on the other hand I am going to want to be outside and it would be tricky to get my work table out on my imaginary patio...
I do plan on getting back to the alphabet I remember I am at P...I plan on doing Pearls or Pyrite.
Till then.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
P is for Pause
Sorry I was going to do the next blog on Pearls but I have been on the computer all day having to redo my website and its a Pain, and I have no Patience. So the Pearls will have to wait until I have less of a headache from staring at the computer screen all day :)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Onyx
O
Onyx
I found this web site that speaks of a myth that is rather interesting.. kinda strange but interesting.
The Goddess Venus was resting on the banks of the Indus River. Cupid was giving her a manicure with the tip of an arrow. The nail filings that came off her nails went into the water and sank to the bottom, there they morphed into Onyx.
History
Onyx is said to have come from the Romans and Greeks. The word Onyx actually means claw or nail in Greek.
In ancient times Onyx was believed to contain a demon spirit. It would awaken at night spreading discord, especially between lovers.
Colour
Black , opaque
Star Sign
Leo and Capricorn
Healing Attributes
Onyx is particularly effective on the skin for infected wounds, fungal infections, sunburn and inflammation - and animal bites
Deflects negative energy
Increases stamina
Gives the wearer a greater sense of inner harmony
Self Confidence
Sense of responsibility
Onyx is a protective stone for dark nights and lonely places ( got that out of a new book I got I will post it at the bottom)
Helps to stabilize a relationship
Helpful for inner ear problems
Protects animals out at night
This piece was a gift for a friend with a shoe fetish. Located behind the shoe charm is a large piece of Onyx and there is also Onyx in the necklace as well.
My newest book purchase was The Encyclopedia of Crystals by Judy Hall.
Getting information online is awesome but I still love books.
Tomorrow I shall talk about Pearls that means I only have Q R S T U V W X Y Z left to do.. then I will go back to talking about anything I want to...though W X and Y seem to be void of a gemstone... as far as I can see at the moment.
Onyx
I found this web site that speaks of a myth that is rather interesting.. kinda strange but interesting.
The Goddess Venus was resting on the banks of the Indus River. Cupid was giving her a manicure with the tip of an arrow. The nail filings that came off her nails went into the water and sank to the bottom, there they morphed into Onyx.
History
Onyx is said to have come from the Romans and Greeks. The word Onyx actually means claw or nail in Greek.
In ancient times Onyx was believed to contain a demon spirit. It would awaken at night spreading discord, especially between lovers.
Colour
Black , opaque
Star Sign
Leo and Capricorn
Healing Attributes
Onyx is particularly effective on the skin for infected wounds, fungal infections, sunburn and inflammation - and animal bites
Deflects negative energy
Increases stamina
Gives the wearer a greater sense of inner harmony
Self Confidence
Sense of responsibility
Onyx is a protective stone for dark nights and lonely places ( got that out of a new book I got I will post it at the bottom)
Helps to stabilize a relationship
Helpful for inner ear problems
Protects animals out at night
This piece was a gift for a friend with a shoe fetish. Located behind the shoe charm is a large piece of Onyx and there is also Onyx in the necklace as well.
My newest book purchase was The Encyclopedia of Crystals by Judy Hall.
Getting information online is awesome but I still love books.
Tomorrow I shall talk about Pearls that means I only have Q R S T U V W X Y Z left to do.. then I will go back to talking about anything I want to...though W X and Y seem to be void of a gemstone... as far as I can see at the moment.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Nickel
I didn't have anything that started with N so I decided to do this blog on Nickel which is something that irritates me... literally.. I am allergic to it.
Nasty Nickel.. but the stupid stuff is kinda pretty.
Nickel is used in most pieces of jewelry out there today... still..because it's cheap. Even if you are buying Sterling Silver it is generally still plated with Nickel because it will stay shiny and bright when the Silver might tarnish.
Ok so now you know that Nickel is evil .. what can you do if your jewelry, belt buckle or zipper has Nickel in it? And trust me your belt buckle has nickel in it :|
What I have done in the past is coat my stuff with clear nail polish but that doesn't always work - and if you are not vigilant with applying the polish every few times you wear it then it will have worn off and well your back to the Nickel.
So is there anything safe? Yes! I can say by my own personal experience that Rhodium, Surgical Stainless Steal, Niobium, Gold, and Sterling Silver are of with me! - just be aware because some of these still have Nickel lurking in them.. its just not as high of a % as others.
Before you go out and buy jewelry why not borrow a friends necklace that is Sterling or Stainless or plated, or the other things I listed.
Most jewelry can be plated with things like Rhodium so if Rhodium works for you then your good to go.
How do I know if there is Nickel in my jewelry? Well ask the seller first - if they are not sure then they should state that. I know I have some pieces which I am unsure of so I will not claim them to be Nickel free. If they say they don't know but you really like it remember you could probably have it plated!
But there is a test for Nickel and the information was on that link I had above but here it is again
Nickel Test
Something I am going to try that I found online is to put a coating of urethane floor coating on the unknown metals. Do I know if it will work? No .. Do I know if its toxic? Not yet I don't have the product to read about it.
Something to remember prior to using this coating is that everal types of accessories come with a thin lacquer layer to keep the finish from oxidizing while the product is being shipped or inventoried in stores. This should be removed with Mineral Spirits before you do the urethane so it sticks.
But before you do that... read this It's important to be safe and aware of what your dealing with.
Not that I enjoy linking people to other people who sell jewelry.. but sometimes there are places that specialize and until I learn how to be sure my stuff is safe I think its only fair to send people where they are sure Simply Whispers has a guarantee it will not cause irritation.. guarantees are good.
I do have Nickel free items available - in fact most of my stuff is but there are a few I need to find out more about.
Nasty Nickel.. but the stupid stuff is kinda pretty.
Nickel is used in most pieces of jewelry out there today... still..because it's cheap. Even if you are buying Sterling Silver it is generally still plated with Nickel because it will stay shiny and bright when the Silver might tarnish.
Ok so now you know that Nickel is evil .. what can you do if your jewelry, belt buckle or zipper has Nickel in it? And trust me your belt buckle has nickel in it :|
What I have done in the past is coat my stuff with clear nail polish but that doesn't always work - and if you are not vigilant with applying the polish every few times you wear it then it will have worn off and well your back to the Nickel.
So is there anything safe? Yes! I can say by my own personal experience that Rhodium, Surgical Stainless Steal, Niobium, Gold, and Sterling Silver are of with me! - just be aware because some of these still have Nickel lurking in them.. its just not as high of a % as others.
Before you go out and buy jewelry why not borrow a friends necklace that is Sterling or Stainless or plated, or the other things I listed.
Most jewelry can be plated with things like Rhodium so if Rhodium works for you then your good to go.
How do I know if there is Nickel in my jewelry? Well ask the seller first - if they are not sure then they should state that. I know I have some pieces which I am unsure of so I will not claim them to be Nickel free. If they say they don't know but you really like it remember you could probably have it plated!
But there is a test for Nickel and the information was on that link I had above but here it is again
Nickel Test
Something I am going to try that I found online is to put a coating of urethane floor coating on the unknown metals. Do I know if it will work? No .. Do I know if its toxic? Not yet I don't have the product to read about it.
Something to remember prior to using this coating is that everal types of accessories come with a thin lacquer layer to keep the finish from oxidizing while the product is being shipped or inventoried in stores. This should be removed with Mineral Spirits before you do the urethane so it sticks.
But before you do that... read this It's important to be safe and aware of what your dealing with.
Not that I enjoy linking people to other people who sell jewelry.. but sometimes there are places that specialize and until I learn how to be sure my stuff is safe I think its only fair to send people where they are sure Simply Whispers has a guarantee it will not cause irritation.. guarantees are good.
I do have Nickel free items available - in fact most of my stuff is but there are a few I need to find out more about.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Moonstone
mooooooooooooooooonstone
I love Moonstone
It's so pretty
so
M
Moonstone
Opalite is not moonstone.. nope its not but some people try to sell it as moonstone.. boo to them.
Here is a quick way to tell the difference.Opalite looks like glass and Moonstone looks like well stone..and a huge huge way to tell is the blue shimmer. The stone is not blue, but there is a blue shimmer you see when you turn it a certain way - I will show you a pic of the stone but I am not sure if I can catch the shimmer on camera
I probably couldn't but these people did click me
I am usually talking about Rainbow Moonstone when I talk about Moonstone.. just to confuse people a little I guess :|
History
Here we go with some legend and lore.. I find them interesting. Blue moonstones which happen to be the most rare of the moonstone family are washed up on sure only o the night of the blue moon - the second full moon to fall in the same month.
The Romans thought moonstone was formed out of pure moonlight because of its gleaming hue.. ok I guess not knowing much about the moonlight in those days it might make a little bit of sense?
Now on to the actual history.. though I guess all legend comes from some sort of history... anyways as I ramble on ( that would be the second song in my head now.. can you guess the first?)
Moonstones were worn to attract a lover - in India couples spoke their vows over matching moonstones... by the light of a full moon, they did this to ensure their love to continue as long as the moon is in the sky...some folks would really be upset with the sun :P...boo our love is gone.. o0o0 look its back.
Colours
White, cream or blue with a brilliant rainbow ..blue to me.. shimmer.
Star Sign
Cancer, the blueish moonstone is more for Pisces
Healing Attributes
Moonstone has beneficial effects on the lymphatic system
Strengthens the immune system
Alleviates thyroid problems
Helps alleviate post operative stress for women who have had surgery related to their breasts, ovaries or womb
Helps lessen mood swings
Releaves insomnia, nightmares, and hormonal stress related headaches
So basically moonstone is really a powerful stone for Women but it is not just for them.
Cats are particularly fond of moonstones
Children benefit from moonstones as well because it helps establish a regular sleep pattern and prevents night terrors.
I have posted one of my moonstone necklaces in a previous post - if you are interested in checking it out it was one of my first if not my first posts.
I love Moonstone
It's so pretty
so
M
Moonstone
Opalite is not moonstone.. nope its not but some people try to sell it as moonstone.. boo to them.
Here is a quick way to tell the difference.Opalite looks like glass and Moonstone looks like well stone..and a huge huge way to tell is the blue shimmer. The stone is not blue, but there is a blue shimmer you see when you turn it a certain way - I will show you a pic of the stone but I am not sure if I can catch the shimmer on camera
I probably couldn't but these people did click me
I am usually talking about Rainbow Moonstone when I talk about Moonstone.. just to confuse people a little I guess :|
History
Here we go with some legend and lore.. I find them interesting. Blue moonstones which happen to be the most rare of the moonstone family are washed up on sure only o the night of the blue moon - the second full moon to fall in the same month.
The Romans thought moonstone was formed out of pure moonlight because of its gleaming hue.. ok I guess not knowing much about the moonlight in those days it might make a little bit of sense?
Now on to the actual history.. though I guess all legend comes from some sort of history... anyways as I ramble on ( that would be the second song in my head now.. can you guess the first?)
Moonstones were worn to attract a lover - in India couples spoke their vows over matching moonstones... by the light of a full moon, they did this to ensure their love to continue as long as the moon is in the sky...some folks would really be upset with the sun :P...boo our love is gone.. o0o0 look its back.
Colours
White, cream or blue with a brilliant rainbow ..blue to me.. shimmer.
Star Sign
Cancer, the blueish moonstone is more for Pisces
Healing Attributes
Moonstone has beneficial effects on the lymphatic system
Strengthens the immune system
Alleviates thyroid problems
Helps alleviate post operative stress for women who have had surgery related to their breasts, ovaries or womb
Helps lessen mood swings
Releaves insomnia, nightmares, and hormonal stress related headaches
So basically moonstone is really a powerful stone for Women but it is not just for them.
Cats are particularly fond of moonstones
Children benefit from moonstones as well because it helps establish a regular sleep pattern and prevents night terrors.
I have posted one of my moonstone necklaces in a previous post - if you are interested in checking it out it was one of my first if not my first posts.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
L is for Labradorite
L
Labradorite
Guess what Canadians that's from our neck of the woods - and other places but it was named after Labrador which is one of our wonderful Canadian peninsulas
History
Labradorite as I stated was found in Labrador, it was discovered in 1770. It is also found in USA, Madagascar, Australia, Mexico, and the former USSR
This is an interesting legend - An Eskimo warrior found these rocks which the Northern Lights had been imprisioned along the cost of Labrador. The warrior freed most of the lights by hitting it with his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped in the stone and that is why we have the beautiful gemstone known as Labradorite - hmm interesting folk lore found from Mineral Miner's web site
Star Sign
Another mix, Aquarius, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Leo - sweet mine is in there!
Colours
Gray Blue stone, surface iridescent with all colours
High quality Labradorite has iridescent flashes of red, blue, green, gold and silver
Healing Attributes
Strengthens the immunse system
Improving vision, especially at night
Counters stress and psychological over dependence for medicines, food, alcohol, tobacco and even dependence on other people
Alleviating bone problems
Disorders of the spinal colum
Rheumatism and Arthritis
Calming
Clarifies own views and objectives
Helps children express their imaginations and develop a sense of humour
It is a good stone for a guard or guide dog - doesn't state why
The necklace I am posting here is called "Give me light"
I called it this due to the lore of the northern lights and because the focal piece is of a chandelier and I also used Swarovski Crystals which are always brilliant in the light
Labradorite
Guess what Canadians that's from our neck of the woods - and other places but it was named after Labrador which is one of our wonderful Canadian peninsulas
History
Labradorite as I stated was found in Labrador, it was discovered in 1770. It is also found in USA, Madagascar, Australia, Mexico, and the former USSR
This is an interesting legend - An Eskimo warrior found these rocks which the Northern Lights had been imprisioned along the cost of Labrador. The warrior freed most of the lights by hitting it with his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped in the stone and that is why we have the beautiful gemstone known as Labradorite - hmm interesting folk lore found from Mineral Miner's web site
Star Sign
Another mix, Aquarius, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Leo - sweet mine is in there!
Colours
Gray Blue stone, surface iridescent with all colours
High quality Labradorite has iridescent flashes of red, blue, green, gold and silver
Healing Attributes
Strengthens the immunse system
Improving vision, especially at night
Counters stress and psychological over dependence for medicines, food, alcohol, tobacco and even dependence on other people
Alleviating bone problems
Disorders of the spinal colum
Rheumatism and Arthritis
Calming
Clarifies own views and objectives
Helps children express their imaginations and develop a sense of humour
It is a good stone for a guard or guide dog - doesn't state why
The necklace I am posting here is called "Give me light"
I called it this due to the lore of the northern lights and because the focal piece is of a chandelier and I also used Swarovski Crystals which are always brilliant in the light
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