New Items Listed - And Blogging Again

I am sure this is how I am going to be looking by the end of Thursday. Today is the day I start migrating our on-premise SharePoint sites to a Cloud environment.

This has been a two year project, but I really started working on it this past February. This is when we started working with consultants to help me move the two hardest sites we had. There were just things on the sites I did not know how to migrate or start a new numbering system on. So, I was able to hire consultants to help with that.

Everything else I created (with lots of help with the committee that was put together). Those people, on the committee, were a joy to work with. I could not have done, or completed, this project without them. It is so great when you can get a group of people together and the ideas just fly!!! I love the collaboration that came from this committee!

This has been one big learner experience for me and I have loved it (for the most part). It has been awesome - I have at least learned something new each day.

So, before the launch starts today - I took last week off to de-stress. Of course it wasn't a relaxing week - a lot was done.

I know I keep saying I will start back to blogging - but it has been difficult. I just haven't had the heart to sit down and type things out. Maybe set a goal of one post a week, and if I do more, it is a plus.

This is a long post with lots of pictures.

New desk layout

New setup for photos

Where we will work on sawing out pieces

One of the projects mom wanted to work on was cleaning up the computer room.

Mom wanted to re-paint the walls and then put up our pictures we just had framed. We also wanted to take out the extra furniture we weren't using.

Both mom and I are really happy with the new look and it has so much more space! Mom says she isn't freaked out now when she walks into the room.

Once we finished the computer room - I got out all of our inventory that I have not taken pictures of so that I could start listing on Etsy.

For me - I listed A LOT!

Photo by my nephew Skyler

Photo by my nephew Skyler

The above photos were taken by my nephew Skyler. He also is learning how to edit the photos and make them fun. So, I have 10 of his metal prints in our Etsy store. Both mom and I are really proud of him.

Be Fearless

Be You and Own It

Hear Me Roar

Live Long & Prosper

Live Your Goal

Live Your Truth

Stand Tall - Walk Proud

Wake Up - Kick Ass - Repeat

These are our hand stamped copper key chains. We saw out the square and then I hand stamp the sayings on the copper. I then use a hammer to texture a few of the pieces or I hammer the copper on our garage to put texture on the copper. Then the copper is soaked in Liver of Sulfur and sanded. Then it is sprayed with a lacquer to stop the patina. Mom then makes the tassels from faux suede and assembles it all. I think mom and I have the most fun coming up with the sayings. We even have had friends give us ideas.

Heart Balloon pendant

Hummingbird pendant

Blue Shell Turtle pendant

Stenciled Elephant pendant

Heart Pendant

 

Horse pendant

Yellow/Green Shell Turtle pendant

Frog pendant

Orange Shell Turtle Pendant

Purple Shell Turtle Pendant

Red Stenciled Elephant Pendant

Grey/Purple Heart Pendant

These are just some of the new handsawed out and enameled pendants that I have listed in the Etsy shop. I still need to work on the double-sided pendants and get them edited and then listed. I just need to take it slowly.

Bee Dog Tag

Forest and Pond Dog Tag

Abstract Tree Dog Tag

I also listed new "Photo Dog Tags". These are photos (and my nephew's photos) that have been infused into aluminum. They are listed with the other dog tags in the Etsy shop.

Faux Leather Enameled Copper Cuff

Faux Leather Enameled Copper Cuff

Faux Leather Enameled Copper Cuff

Faux Leather Enameled Copper Cuff

Not for sale - dandelion enameled copper bar on faux leather bracelet

Not for sale - dandelion enameled copper bar on faux leather bracelet

I have just started making these enameled copper bracelet bars and attaching them to faux leather bracelets that are adjustable. The dandelion bracelet bar is for me - plus I wanted to test wear these bracelets to make sure they would hold up. I figure if they last with me anyone can wear them. I have the two listed in the shop now and I have several in the works.

Enameled copper earrings

Today I took photos of our enameled copper earrings. I now have to go through them all, pick the best photos, edit the photos and then list in our Etsy shop. That will take a while, but I will get it done.

I will try and do better on the blogging - plus I have to share with you if I survive the following week of migration. I am being positive. Everything is in place - I just have to redirect everyone to the sites and give them the directions. Of course that means that people actual have to read the directions first. But I am being positive!

My Work Office Cube Makeover

Entrance to my work area

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted a total office makeover. I couldn't stand the tan walls and the mess of my desk to look at anymore. The wonderful thing about making this decision - I got rid of year's of paperwork!

The first photo is of the entrance to my cube. Mom and I had this divider at home that we used to use for our art shows, but have not used it in about five years. So, added a Do Not Disturb sign, some butterfly wings I had worn for a Halloween party at work, and fairy lights on the inside. A nice way to block of my office if there is something I really need to get done and I can't be disturbed.

My Updated Cube

I stood up on the desk behind me to get this overall shot of my cube. I am still in love with this area. I keep the counters clean and the only thing on my workstation is my notebook to track what I need to get done.

New light, fabric on the walls, and flowers from Michael's

So, to the left of my desk I have added a little light. I have almost all the lights off over my desk (I get migraines, so this helps out some). Beside the light I have canning jars, that were my grandma's, that mom and I re-purposed to hold the flowers (the flowers were from Michael's and they were on sale).

To the right of my desk area.

To the right of my desk area is the only paperwork I have and my phone. I bought the crate from Mendards. It wasn't white, so mom painted it white for me. Inside the crate are two more of my grandma's canning jars with fairy lights, more flowers, and a jar holding my glitter pens. The file folder, that is pink, holds the only paperwork that I have. The mint green box holds training paperwork. On top of the box are a tape dispenser, stapler and paper clip holder that mom spray painted glitter pink for me. Behind the phone is a tube, that held the peel and stick for the walls, that we filled with more fairy lights.

Overall view of my desk

In front of my cube is a cloth wall - mom and I went to JoAnn fabrics and bought fabric. This is the fabric I put in front of me so I can look at it every day. I actually look forward to coming to work now each day.

Peel and stick wall with paintings

This wall mom and I used peel and stick from Target - it is a metallic pink color. The left over peel and stick mom used to accent my grandma's canning jars (mom is so talented). I also bought more fairy lights to go around my cube.

I brought in another piece mom and I used to use for our art shows, that had just been sitting in the garage. I used this piece to put all of my mugs on them that I painted at "All Fired Up". Again, used fairy lights on the rack. The green wall is more fabric I bought from JoAnn fabrics to cover the tan walls. It is hard to see, but it is a nice mellow green.

I have created a little seating area with a rug, that pulls in the fabric color from the walls.

I moved my coat cabinet to behind me. Has more canning jars holding glitter pens, more flowers and more fairy lights.

And the final picture - mom sewed me a runner to put under my monitors. She used the left over fabric to create the runner.

I could not have done any of this without mom. She helped so much - she is the best.

So, that is my cube makeover. It makes it fun to actual come into work each morning. I hope you enjoyed the cube makeover.

Art Elements - April Theme Challenge: Horses

This month's Art Elements Theme Challenge is Horses.

Mom and I have not particiapated in any challenges for a couple of years. We both have been stressed at work, mom has had health issues the last few years, and we both just have not been up to adding anything extra to our lives.

Well, January 31st mom retired. She wanted to get a few months of freedom under her belt before we started anything new, so, this is our first challenge and we were both excited about it. I do have to say the only reason I knew about it was that Jennifer Cameron mentioned it to me on my Instagram page when I started posting the picture of our horse piece. She said I should join the challenge, so here we go.

This is our completed horse piece - it is about six inches by seven inches - and it will be displayed in a shadow box. Mom and I were trying to go for the rustic/southwest feel for the colors in the horse. Both of us are really happy with the way it turned out.

The piece first starts out as a pattern that is then glued down on 20g copper sheets. Mom and I try to get as many patterns on the 12x12 inch sheet of copper (no waste of copper here).

We then use our big cutter to make the pieces smaller for us to saw out.

Mom hand saws out the pattern (you can see a video of her sawing on our FB page) with a jeweler's saw and then she files and sands the piece before I get to the enameling.

I then enamel the pieces in a kiln. I try to have an assembling line going of pieces so I can maximize my time since I can only enamel on the weekend.

And this is the piece right out of the kiln.

I hope you enjoyed our process for the horse plate.

Here is a list of those participating in the challenge. Mom and I have the last day of our show today, so I will hop when I have a chance.

Guests:

Alysen

Anita

Beth - you are here

Catherine

Jill

Paulette

Raven 

Sarajo

Tammy

AE Team Members: 

Caroline 

Claire

Jen  

Laney 

Lesley 

Marsha 

Niky 

Sue

We Are Back - Pretty Pieces to Share

We are back and we are currently prepping for our first show of the year. The show is in Plainfield, Indiana called The Arts Gala. Mom and I have never done this show, so we are super excited to see how it enfolds. This is actually a three day show - and I am so glad mom is retired now and has more time to devote to the business.

Besides getting ready for the show - I have been enameling like a fool. I have enameled bowls, earrings, double sided pendants, necklaces and plates.

So - here is a look of what we have been up to since mom has retired (though she is disappointed in herself that she hasn't got more done, but she had an infected tooth and that played havoc with all of her plans for retirement).

Bowls:
These are our ThumBOWLina bowls. They are little bowls that you can use for decorations or place your rings in.
We have had a person use our bowls in a wedding. They put their wedding rings in the bowl, and then passed it around the guests asking them to put their well wishes on the rings.

Plates:
These pieces are displayed in our shadow boxes.

Double Sided Pendants:
I enamel different designs on each side of the pendant - so you get one pendant with two different designs.

Earrings:
Some of the earrings have been assembled and the rest are being put together before the show.

Assembled necklaces:

The polymer clay pendant is from Swoondimples.
Enameled copper pendant, our lampwork glass beads
and stones.

Enameled copper pendant, our lampwork
glass beads and howlite beads.

Enameled copper pendant, our
lampwork glass beads, gunmetal
beads and a pewter clasp.

I hope you enjoyed what we have created in the last few months. Mom and I hope to also start participating in challenges again. We have asked to join the April Theme - Horses on Art Elements. We also want to start participating in the monthly challenge on Art Beads again. So, more pieces will be sure to follow.

I will share pictures of this weekends show next week.