Fresh from the Forge... Well sort of....

My mind went on vacation last week and left the rest of me home pouting, but I still kept busy. I managed to spend some time making jewelry, but not enough time in the garden or on the beach. Anyway, I thought I would offer a sneak preview of some of my new jewelry pieces. I will list them in my Etsy shop later on this evening. I will also be listing some things at eCrater as well as ebay. Most of these involve more chain maille than forging, but I just couldn't resist the title.

This bracelet and earring set features turquoise dyed howlite rondells with little wooden spacers and hand forged sterling silver infinity symbols.

These earrings might just be some of my new favorites. The little crosses are made from mother of pearl and indoors they look kind of gold, but outdoors the colors looked a little more rosy. The gemstones are garnet rondells and the ring is a gold plated solid twist circle. They are light weight and easy to forget you have them on.

I've also been playing with pearls and chain maille. I just love doing this. It's so much more fun than going back to work.

If you would like to see more, check out my shops at etsy and ecrater. I don't have an ebay store, but you can find my listings there as Sandypetals.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Saturday's shopping spree Aka Have you thought about Christmas yet?

Have you thought about Christmas yet? Do you wait until the last minute to shop, hit the stores on the day after Thanksgiving before the sun rises, or do you plan ahead, making lists and determining that this year, most of it will be hand made or at least purchased and mailed by Thanksgiving,  I fall somewhere in the midst of all those categories. I've been thinking about it lately though and because I hate to shop in a crowd and I really would like to make the majority of the gifts I give and yes, I would love to have everything done before Thanksgiving so that I can be free to enjoy as many of the season's festivities as humanly possible. After all, it only happens once a year right?
Brace yourself: Here it comes: Christmas will be here in.....133 days!
Let's Go shopping....

new baby in the family? check out this adorable Sock Monkey Cocoon and Hat by nmelone13 on ETSY, or how about the little ones who love stuffed animals? Check these out....Gordon.
For the avid reader on your list, you can always offer bookmarks like this one  by my favorite folk artist Campbell Jane.


Jewelry is always a plus, and I love this bracelet by sparkle peach with it's simple elegance.
 I've been working on some earrings and bracelets of my own too,

but I have yet to list them.   I have no idea what to do for the guys on my list, but I really need ideas.

So where do you stand? Have you started, do you not want to think about it? Have you thought about it but don't want to deal with it just yet? Once again I seem to fall in the middle of all my categories.