Rose

You all know that my biz name is jericas jewelry, not Jerica's Jewelry, right? It's a word, not a name. Not a name. Not a name. And if it WERE a name, I'd know it was a possessive and that it needed the apostophe, right? It may not have been a smart name choice, but I can't change that now. All I know is that I have never once, not a single time, added an apostrophe, and yet everyone adds one for me, like I'm some kind of idiot.

Great Success!

Yay! Recovered my lost photos using a shareware program, downloaded and installed a new photo editor and was able to post the first few shots I took at Flag Fest.


This is what I found when I arrived at the Betsy Ross House: 1 table, 1 table cloth, 2 chairs, 1 tent. It was a beautiful sight (especially because I didn't have to assemble any of it myself). The orange buckets are filled with water, to weight down the tent legs.



To my right were 2 classic cars: A Ford Model T and a Model A. One was a 1914 model, the other a 1930, I believe. I toyed with jumping into the Model A like Bonnie or Clyde, but ultimately decided against it. The owners of the car (squint and you can see them in the photo) were the gentlemen who helped me put up tent flaps in the rain. The photos tell you just how grey a day it was that Saturday.



Across the street from me was a woman who dyed fabric (I think) and made clothing. She was extremely nice, but because I was stationed behind my own table, I honestly saw very little of the FF events and I couldn't even talk to other vendors much.

More photos coming up.

Ready to Go, Let's Move 'Em Out!

I'm thinking of doing an online-charity event in which people are directed to my Etsy shop, and if they buy something, I donate a percentage of the profit to a local organization.



I contacted the organization in question and didn't hear anything back. I tried again a few months later, and I just heard back from a coordinator.




I have lots of jewelry made up and ready to go and I'd love to move some of it out. Surely someone would want a pair of these earrings, or a matching necklace, no?



Details forthcoming, if anything happens as a result of my barking up their tree.

Back to Pearls

About the time I bought my supplies for my recent outdoor sale, I bought several strands of freshwater pearls.



Last December, I made a beautiful 6-strand metallic pearl necklace. I used gold, bronze and umber pearls, interspersed with a few Swarovski crystals, and twisted the strands together haphazardly. The result was really striking, and I still need to post those photos here.


I used a large pewter clasp in the shape of a flower. I had 6 strands to attach, so I needed the extra room on either end.




When this necklace sold, it was the most expensive piece of mine that anyone had ever bought. I made 2 different pairs of matching earrings that also sold. I wish I had kept those earrings. They were really beautiful, if I say so myself. Because I used 14k gold-filled findings along with the pearls, I charged $20/pair. They were snapped up immediately, so I'm assuming people thought that was a good deal.

Packaging

I recently ordered 2 personalized rubber stamps for my packaging. I used the larger of the 2 to imprint my info on some paper bags. I had thought to buy plain brown bags, but when I was out shopping one day, I found that those bags have been upgraded--I found red, white and blue versions! The blue was too dark for my tastes, in terms of ink showing up, but the red and white were perfect.

Betsy and Chloe

As I struggle to salvage my photos off 2 cards that don't contain them anymore (I've downloaded a recovery tool and am working on it with the help of my own personal computer brainiac), I wanted to share 2 lovely shots taken by my good friend Heather, who came out to support me last weekend, bringing her cute little 4-month-old girl Chloe.

Chloe wore a patriotic outfit:


AND got to meet Betsy Ross (hint: Betsy is the one with the flag; Chloe is the one with the dinosaur):



Thanks for the photos Mommy Heather!

You and Your Little Monkey, Too!

Well, on Sunday, I finally got a chance to meet Django the monkey. I'm not gonna lie--she's a cute little thing! And very friendly. She kissed me. Twice. And by kiss, I mean a lick on the nose. But, I've had worse, you know?

Sadly, it seems that I lost every single Flag Fest photo I took...I'm very disappointed, but I have to let it go, right? I just wanted to share and have a record for my own memory, but I can do without them.

But I did go to Jerry Brown's website to snag some pix. Jerry owns Django, and is a fine performer in his own right (though slightly less cute--only because he can't sit on your shoulder or lick your nose).

Check him out here

and here's little Django. She's a tricky little monkey, according to Jerry. But very gentle.

Flag What?

Oh. My.

Today was quite the day. I did manage to take photos of my set-up process and my eventual table lay out, as well as a few shots of the environs.

What I did not get photos of was the electrical storm (always good to be sitting under a metal tent for that), the flooding (quick, move your bag off the ground!), the high winds (you set out all of that jewelry meticulously? Well, it looks great thrown to the asphalt that way!) or the struggle to put up sides to the tent I'd rented.

I do have to thank the gentlemen sitting next to me (one of whom told a fascinating story about his 'experience' with a flight attendant), and one of Philadelphia's finest (do you call the fire dept. the finest? Mirror mirror on the wall...) for help with my tent. At one point, we just decided to remove the sides because even though I needed wind protection, they were catching wind like a sail, and the tent threatened to fly off like the house in the Wizard of Oz.

I made a few bucks. Not what I would've liked, but the weather didn't cooperate and there were some other extenuating circumstances. But as always, it was great to talk with shoppers and event goers, and I have to say that everyone employed by the Betsy Ross House worked very, very hard and had winning spirits.

I go back tomorrow for Flag Fest Part Deux: Back for Blood!

(pix forthcoming)

ps: A big thank you to my friends Angie, Robert and Cheryl for helping out at my table, and Nat and Julie for dropping by.

Etsy Mini

I am adding new items everyday and juggling those things that I'm taking with me to the sale this weekend.

Handmade Invites

I made my own Flag Fest invites!




I used white card stock and added red, white and blue elements. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it.



One more week!

Think Pink

I made something pink.




I am spending all night tonight making more things shaped like these earrings.




I honestly don't know when it will ever end.




Wish me luck. Wish me lots of luck.

Pearls and Carnelian: Help Me Decide

I'm hoping for some design input.

I ordered some strands of metallic pearls recently--they are head drilled (which you'll see in the photos) and I wanted to mix them with carnelian head-drilled briolettes. But which strand of pearls do you think would look best with the carnelian? I've included pix below. Keep in mind that I'm thinking of the overall piece, and that 'going' is not the same as 'matching,' if that makes sense. Which pairing would bring out the best of BOTH gemstones?

Take a look and help me decide. Comment here, if you'd be so kind. I've included the carnelian strand both on top and below to make the comparison easier.







Thanks!