Wow, Busy Summer

Wow my summer got busy, I was doing various markets and let my internet stuff fall by the wayside, but I'm back and trying to get back in the swing of things. It helps that the kids are back in school. I've got tons of new items to list, lots of new cell phone charms, an insane number of earrings, lots of pendants, necklaces and bracelets, so stay tuned. Meanwhile here's everything I listed last week, enjoy!

My Real Crafting Beginning

I finished embroidering a leaf pattern on this apron I've been working on.It's not finished so that's why there's still marks from my embroidery hoop. I bought a really neat starter kit from Sublime Stitching, I'm going to add a cute fairy sitting on a mushroom.

I bought a starter kit because I haven't embroidered in years, which is strange because embroidery was my first craft and started my love/addiction for crafts.

I know I stated before that I first learned to craft when I was 10 and my grandma taught me to crochet, but my abuela told me I was "wrong, wrong, wrong," and to prove this she pulled out my first embroidery sampler, and written in the corner was "Monique, age 6". I gues my 80ish grandmother has a better memory than me, I'm 27 and losing it already.

Anyways, I remember now. My grandma and my abuela took turns watching my sister and I over summer break. I was 6 and I was bored, which I felt the need to express, quit vocally and often. After she had had enough of my whining, my abuela said let me teach you something to keep you entertained.

She said follow me and took me to her forbidden craft room. I loved her craft room, but my sister and I were never allowed in there. And now she was leading me through the door and I was giddy with wonder and excitement. Then she went to this giant metal cabinet, unlocked it and there was a treasure trove of crafting supplies. Fabric, ribbon, buttons, thread, sequins, glitter and plenty I didn't get to see before she grabbed what she needed and closed the door and locked it back up.

She then took a piece of paper and pressed it to a piece of fabric and ironed them. Then she handed me the fabric and there was a cute little unicorn smiling back at me. Abuela pulled out large a box of threads and told me to pick out whatever colors I wanted. I chose pink and purple.

I was then taught a few basic stitches and I sat and I embroidered until my mom came to pick us up. A couple days later I finished the unicorn, then started on a cat followed by a teddy bear.

And I fell in love with crafting. I love to create and tried as many crafts as I could get my hands on. I still do this. I love to learn new things and I love the pride and accomplishment I feel when I create something new.

Handmade Tuesday

I'm late!! I'm late!!

Would you believe I totally forgot it's Tuesday? Well I kind of did until right now, good thing I had my stuff ready.

I've been designing jewelry for some time now and I never thought of using wood. I'd seen wood used in jewelry, of course, but it never appealed to me. Then I joined The Handmade Artists Forum and met the jewelry designer who runs Jewelry by Janelle50 and saw her amazing work with exotic wood. Check out these two beautiful pieces and then go check out her shop.

What I made and what I'm working on

Yesterday I worked on six helm bracelets. I made them in red, green, blue, pink, orange and purple. I'm waiting for some more rings to come and then I'm going to make more in silver, yellow and rainbow. They're made with 16G 5/16" bright aluminum and Epdm, with 18G 3/16" anodized aluminum. I love colors, they're so much fun. I plan on making matching chokers and a million other colored bracelets of varying weaves. I really like the stretchy that the EPDM provides, it's nice to not have to worry about clasps. I made my kids a few stretchy bracelets for this reason, they can get them on and off themselves.

Right now I'm working on chainmaille wrapped cabochons. I've got three lapis lazuli cabochons 18 x 13mm ovals. I'm wrapping them in half persian 3 in 1 with braonze 20G 1/8" jump rings. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do when done. Probably bracelets, but I haven't decided what weave to use for the bracelets. Maybe GSG or half persian 3-1 sheet 6. Or maybe I'll do some japanese 12 in 2, which I've been wanting to do again for awhile. Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

How I Got Started

I've started this blog to document my progress in starting a business. I make jewelry, I've always been a crafty person. I started crafting at around age 10 when my grandma taught me to crochet. I was raised under the belief of "why buy something when you can make it yourself?"

Next I learned embroidery, sewing, scrapbooking, beaded jewelry, woodworking and knitting. I've jumped back and forth over these various crafts over the years, learning as many techniques as I could.

I started making my own jewelry at age 14., I loved it and my bead collection grew over the years. Fast forward 12 years to last December, I was searching through etsy and came across a chainmaille bracelet. I loved it! It was amazing and I delved into the subject of chainmaille jewelry.

Being the planner that I am I began researching chainmaille and chainmaille jewelry. The art of chainmaille is over 2000 years old, with it being used primarily as armor. There are european, japanese and persian weaves, but the celts, romans and the Norse were the original proprieters of maille. Much later around Shakesperean times chainmaile began being used as jewelry.

In January I bought some jump rings, pliers and taught myself chainmaille. The first thing i made was a japanese 12 in 2 weave choker. It took me a couple hours to finish, and by the time it was done I had a new passion. I started weaving like crazy. I loved it more than any other craft I've done over the years.

I soon had my jewelry box overflowing with chainmaille. My friends and family got lots of chainmaille. One day my husband came home and saw me working on yet another piece and said "Why don't you try selling that stuff?" Why don't I? A few weeks later Tora Jewelry was born.

The name comes from my love of tigers and japanese art. Balancing starting a business and caring for my children, ages 2 and 5, was difficult at first, but with help from my husband I'm off to a pretty decent start. I'm mainly focusing on my internet shop for now, but I am planning on scoping out local Farmer's Markets and other local places to sell.

Wish me luck,
Monique