Happy Easter

A collection of lovely easter-themed finds from the Treasury Friends Team on Etsy:

Garnet, Iolite, Peridot...When I can't decide...make earrings from all three!

One of the many great thing about jewelry design, after you build a real collection of gems: you never have to just make "one" when you have a new idea. For some newer pieces, I've borrowed from my smaller dainty, and my longer decadent styles, and found something in the middle. I love the larger french style hooks for these - adding length and a little drama and swing without going too wild. I'm a big fan of earrings you can wear to the office, and out for dinner too, but it's a tricky balance sometimes.

First I started with a new pair of Iolite Earrings. I love the deep blue of Iolite, and have some really gorgeous stones that barely need any help from me:

It was an easy leap over to Garnet next:

And then to Peridot - these stones are a little smaller than the others so instead of 3 gems I went with 5, and swapped in a braided rope instead of the silver teardrop:

Now time to look at my citrine and amethyst...hmmmm.....

AeridesDesigns.com is now live!

I'm really excited to share my website - now live! I have about a dozen items shown which link back to my Etsy shop for purchases, and also a link over here to my blog. Craig created my new logo and overall design and I'm really happy with how it turned out! Now of course I need to get more items over to him to add!

As I start to expand beyond Etsy, I'm glad I now have a more grounded place to point customers and clients.

Please visit Craig's website for more ideas and to see his portfolio at CRCJRDesigns

New creations

I'm making a conscious effort now to increase my necklaces and bracelets as a balance to my earrings. Necklaces are fun and generally easier than earrings - I don't have to spend 20 minutes staring at stones to find the "perfect" matched pair - but for some reason I still have to push myself towards them. Silly of me I know!

My citrine coin bracelet recently sold, so in addition to making another one, I added one with garnet, and a funky one with these beautiful large green amethyst.

More to come!

Orchids Blooming

Almost all my plants are in some stage of blooming now, so I'll try to capture each of them in their full glory over the coming weeks.
I love the way the light reflects off this purple Phal, as it stares off into the early morning sun.

This Vanda...I've had him since the 90's and I think this is only the 2nd time ever that he's bloomed for me.

The orchids in the gazebo are competing for attention now.

A preview...

I'm getting official! I'm working on my own real website: http://AeridesDesigns.com - more details to follow but here's a preview!

I'm working with Craig of crcjrdesigns who designed my logo. Can't wait to get more up but it's pretty so far so I wanted to share.

Jumping in: Feature on Heartsy tomorrow!

**Update 4/3 - I'm live now! http://heartsy.me/users/1411/referral **


I've been talking to the folks at Heartsy the past few days to work out a deal for a one-time offer on their site (think Groupon for handmade). They are very new, changing the rules day by day, clearly a start up but they are on to something. They were already featured on the Today Show this week. I've done the math and for a major advertising burst I think I can swing it - once! More importantly, I'd rather do it than not, and always wonder what if....

And this morning, the #1 seller of handmade on Etsy was featured - Anderson Soap Company (lovely bath and body soap shop). If established, successful shops are seeing it as a worthwhile venture, heck why not! (Or maybe they are just curious...meh! I'd rather find out the hard way than not know!)

So, after a few days of back and forth, I'll be up tomorrow with a special deal, check back here for the link, or sign up here now and you'll get the email from Heartsy in the morning.

Wish me luck!