Showcase at The Lindsay Gallery

I’m so excited to be able to share with you that my jewelry is currently being showcased at The Lindsay Gallery!

You may wonder why jewelry is being found at an Art Gallery, I know it’s not typical. The Lindsay Gallery showcases local talent on a rotating basis. Each month they exhibit one artist on the walls of the Gallery, and one artisan in their showcase display cases. Lindsay is the area where I grew up and although I don’t call it home anymore I have been staying here for several months while I helped care for my mom. I was lucky enough to have my jewelry noticed at a Christmas Farmers Market where I was a vendor and later contacted with an invitation to showcase my jewelry at the Gallery.

Although I’ve done many craft shows this was a little outside my comfort zone but I was excited for the challenge! I had already begun experimenting with new collections for Spring and this gave me a push to get them perfected and ready to officially debut for the showcase. I’m so excited about these new collections that are completely handmade using fine and sterling silvers and torch fired enamel. Each piece is formed, hammered, fused, tumbled and torched by me making every piece one of a kind.  Currently these new collections are available exclusively in the showcase at The Lindsay Gallery, but soon will be available online through my Etsy Shop. Or if you just can’t wait then please contact me to talk about a custom order.

My jewelry will be on display until April 14th, 2012. If you’re in the area I would love you to stop by and visit The Lindsay Gallery to take a look or pass along the information to anyone in the area who may be interested. For more information about The Lindsay Gallery or my showcase visit their website here.

Spring Cleaning Sale!

I don’t often post about myself but I wanted to share the news that I’m having a very rare sale in my Etsy shop and I don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity to get a great price on a treat for yourself (or someone else)!

I’ve been busy in my studio working on new products for spring and summer collections that are a whole new look and I’m so excited about them! But before I make them available in my Etsy Shop I need to clear some space so I’ve discounted many items at great low prices. I love these items and so do my customers but my style has been changing so once these final few pieces are gone they won’t be back. To see everything on sale just click here. Hope you see something you love!

 

 

 

Poppy Challenge Blog Hop

I’m so happy to be taking part is this fabulous Blog Hop today!

I entered thinking I didn’t have a chance to actually be chosen to participate and I was so excited to have won a spot! Not only was I excited to take part in my first ever Blog Hop, but I was thrilled to receive two lovely poppy headpins to create something with as part of the challenge. Jo Tinley from Daisychain Designs is a talented artisan and I was excited to get to work with these poppy headpins that she made!

This little project also turned into something a little therapeutic for me which was greatly appreciated. Having lost my mom to ovarian cancer only 11 days ago I’ve been feeling a little lost and struggling with so many emotions. Having the deadline to get this piece of jewelry made pushed me to spend some time thinking about creating and it was a push I needed. Being creative has always been a great outlet for me to work out stress and I’m so grateful to have something I love to do that will help me along the way to healing.

The jewelry I create is typically feminine and easy to wear and these headpins fit perfectly into my design esthetic. I’ve recently started working with metals including silver, copper and steel and this was the perfect opportunity to mix these metals in one piece. As soon as I got my package in the mail with these lovely poppies I was certain of what I was going to make.

I started with annealed steel wire and formed it into a teardrop shape by hand. I then hammered it to give it a great rustic texture. I positioned the headpins where I wanted them and wrapped the copper around the steel. Once I was happy with the placement I sealed each piece with wax to protect the steel from moisture and added hand formed sterling silver earring wires. I love how these earrings turned out and I’m thrilled that the simple design showcases the beautiful poppies!

The fun of this Blog Hop is that you get to see how 6 different people use these poppies each in their own way! So be sure to head over to the other participants blogs to see what they created! The other participants are Jo from Daisychain Designs, Molly from Beautifully Broken Me, Kristi from Curiosities by K, Fiona from TizDuster and Jennifer from Glass Addictions.

I know I can’t wait to see for myself what they’ve created!

Handmade Holiday Gift Guide from Handmade Success

I’m so honored today to have been included among these other talented handmakers in this Handmade Holiday Gift Guide posted by Handmade Success! You can visit the post here to find details of all the great gifts suggested!

 

 

Time for an Announcement!

I have an announcement that I’m very excited to share!

I’ve been blogging with Sea Flower Studios for over a year now and I enjoy it so much more than I ever thought I would. What started as a personal blog to share recipes, DIY projects and great handmade finds has taken a bit of a turn over the last year. As my followers know I started sharing vendor calls after realizing it was difficult to find a comprehensive list and that has brought many followers and helped me connect with many creative entrepreneurs in our community. Over the last few months that has become a large focus of my blog.

I’ve decided it’s time to branch out and split my blog into two in order to give my followers more focused posts. First off I will keep Sea Flower Studios and I will go back to posting delicious recipes, fun DIY projects, what I’m up to with my jewelry, great handmade finds and anything else fun I decide I want to share.

The big news is that I now have a second brand new blog called Handmakers Haven. Handmakers Haven is just that…a haven for artisans to come learn, get inspired and connect with other creative entrepreneurs. This new blog will be where from now on I will be posting vendor calls. I will still focus on Toronto and Area but will be posting more about shows throughout Ontario and across Canada. I will also post more resources to help creative entrepreneurs build their businesses and Handmakers Haven will be the new host of the Artisan Support Forum so we can continue building connections with each other.

I’m so excited about the growth I’ve seen in my blog over the last year and I expect with this change I will be able to give my amazing readers even more of what you want! If you are currently a follower of Sea Flower Studios and are interested in the creative  business side of things head over to Handmakers Haven and follow me there as well. For the next month or so during this transition I will post vendor calls on both blogs, but will be reminding readers to head over to Handmakers Haven.

Of course this also means new Facebook and Twitter pages so if you use those methods to follow please feel free to head over and follow Handmakers Haven those ways as well!

It’s a little scary to start fresh with a second blog and I’m sure the first few months will have ups and downs as work out any kinks with the new blog so I appreciate your patience and support and I look forward to being able to connect with even more readers! ♥

Etsy Front Page!

I’m so excited to have an item featured on Etsy’s Front Page today! The item is one of my favorites…and also one of my best selling items…the Sweet Pea Bracelet! Take a look at all the gorgeous pink items that were included! Congrats to everyone included and a big thanks to Sewingseed for creating this great treasury! ♥

‘Home’ by Sewingseed

Pink Dream…original photo … katierosephoto… $24.00	Summer Pink Rose Ring Size 8… meltemsem $115.00	Botanical Sachet Stamped Bir… gardenmis $8.00	Soft Pink Bracelet from the … SeaFlowerStudi… $40.00
Vintage Ice Cream Scoop – Pi… msbibliotecari… $12.00	Hand woven linen small bag h… boutiqueseragu… $10.00	Home 8×8 Original Typography… Ringlebee $10.00	Pink Brown – Woodland Art – … CynthiaCranesA… $14.00
Pink fabric bunny MeshuMaSH $20.00	60s half slip / vintage ling… RustBeltThread… $22.00	Pink Shabby Chic Flower Prin… PureNaturePhot… $19.99	Sterling silver and color pe… huiyitan $24.00
Lavender Rose Heart Bath Bom… ElegantRoseBou… $11.25	Miss Bear and her portrait. inameliart $70.00	Tassel Leather Earrings Baby… daimblond $18.00	macaron study no. 3 . . . 5x… lesleysico $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Happy Anniversary to Sea Flower Studios!

This week is the first anniversary for Sea Flower Studios. One year ago this week I launched my Etsy Shop, Blog, Facebook, Twitter and website. Wow it was a busy week! It’s been a fun year full of ups and downs, moments of celebrations and moments of frustrations and most of all a ton of learning! I feel like not only has my business grown over the last year but so have I. I’ve met some amazing people, worked with some great customers and made some fabulous friends who I hope will be friends for a long time to come. Thanks to everyone who has been part of my first year of Sea Flower Studios!

What better way to celebrate then with a little giveaway! Kristan from the Blog adelynSTONE has featured my Earring Display DIY this week and is hosting a giveaway for a $20 credit for my Etsy Shop. Be sure to pop over to her blog to enter the contest! And as a thank you to those of you who have been following me during my first year, if one of my followers (of my blog, Facebook or twitter) wins the giveaway I will be sure to add something extra when you claim your prize! (Be sure to leave a comment here so I know you’re a follower here and the name you entered the contest under). The contest ends this Sunday, September 25th so head over there now!

I have a lot of new things planned for this next year and I can’t wait to share things with you as they happen. To start with you may have noticed a couple of days a little makeover to my Blog and Etsy Shop. I felt after a year it was time for a new look that was more reflective of Sea Flower Studios. I’ve also changed my packaging to reflect the feminine and elegant style of my jewelry. I will post in the next couple weeks to introduce my new packaging look! Also I’m excited to say I have a new collection of earrings that are just about ready to hit my shop in the next few days and if you’re a bride you’ll want to stay tuned because I will be introducing some new jewelry with the bride and her bridesmaids in mind!

To make sure my second year is as productive as my first I’m starting the year out with a survey to make sure I’m giving you, my readers and followers, what you want. It’s a quick poll that will only take about 30 seconds and you can choose as many answers as apply to you. You can find it in the right hand column on this page.

 Thanks for giving your input and good luck in the contest!♥

99 Mrkt With A Spin!

I am happy to let you know I will once again be at 99 Mrkt this Sunday, September 11th! I’ve done this market a couple of times in the past and had a great time so I’m looking forward to being able to be there again! This weekend there is a spin though…they are hosting the 99 Mrkt in The Gallery at 99 Sudbury. The Gallery is currently holding The Second Annual Art Spin Exhibition so there will be tons of great art to look at as well as the fabulous Mrkt Vendors! You can read more about the Exhibition on this post by Blog TO.

The Mrkt itself will have its usual fabulous mix of vendors with everything from handmade goods to delicious food to artwork to clothing and more! Come visit the Mrkt this weekend held at The Gallery at 99 Sudbury on Sunday, September 11th from 11am to 5pm.

Returning to 99 Market this Sunday!

I was a vendor at the new and fabulous 99 Market on August 7th and I had such a fun day I will be returning this Sunday!

If you haven’t had a chance to check it out plan on stopping by. There was a great mixture of vendors selling anything from streetwear, artwork, honey, food, coffee, textiles, local honey products, dog walking services, dance lessons, organic vegetable home delivery services,  jewelry (Of course!) and the list goes on. It was a fun and friendly atmosphere and the vendors were having as much fun as those who stopped by to check out the market.

99 Market is this Sunday, August 21st from 11am to 5pm. It’s located at 99 Sudbury. The market is kid friendly and dog friendly so bring the whole family!

Playing Dress Up!

Okay to today’s post is just about something fun I found while browsing around the internet today.

I’ve been looking for ways that I can give customers some ideas how to accessorize using my jewelry. It’s one thing to say in a listing that a pair of earrings will look great with a little black cocktail dress or go with a pain of jeans, but words can only go so far. Now I’ve found a way to actually show outfits I think my jewelry could look good with.

The website is called Polyvore. Basically it’s a collection of thousands of pictures of clothing items and accessories and you can pick the items you want to make an outfit. You can upload pictures you find online as well (although so far I’ve had trouble uploading pictures of my own jewelry because you can’t import pictures from Etsy or Flickr…but I’m sure I’ll figure that out eventually!).

 

So I thought it would be fun to create a couple outfits to match a pair of earrings that I just listed today! The earrings are beautiful clusters of tiny sparking silver beads. I love using these beads in my jewelry. I think jewelry that sparkles can work with anything from a casual outfit to something special and feminine…so that’s what I decided to show. I’ve created two outfits that I think would both work with these stunning earrings.