Giveaways

Here's a quick giveaway post featuring etsy artists!

JTsBoutique
http://sockmonkeyaddict.blogspot.com/ Just post a comment to win!

BrightonEarly
http://brightonearly.blogspot.com/2008/10/monthly-giveaway-kick-off.html Ends October 31st! All you have to do is comment!

MellyRooDesigns (sdkent79)
http://www.mellyroodesigns.com/ Leave a comment. Ends October 27th!

Have fun!
Jeeks

New Items!

Hey All! Just wanted to let you know there's new items at SkySong Creations. So, stop by if you can!

Jeeks

Jet

Did you know...

Jet is coal that has become petrified over time. Which means, it's made up of Carbon (C). It is said that jet...

• can be used to alleviate arthritis and inflammation of the joints.



• is helpful in the treatment of bronchitis, colds, and headaches.



• should never be cleansed or charged by water or sun.



• is found in the USA, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and the former Soviet Union.



• has a structure similar to wood.



• is similar to anthracite (hard coal) and vulcanite (hardened rubber) which have been used to imitate it. So Watch Out!

Well, gotta jet!
Jeeks

My 1st sell & 2 weeks notice.

Yay!! I finally had a sell :>D. Three of my items are nolonger my own.

• Fall Feather Copper Earrings
• To love a dove...necklace
• Pink Seahorse Earrings

Wow, you know it feels really great to finally sell on-line. It's so much harder to do when compared to in person.

Ok, so I have to tell you what my first customer said because then I'll have the guts to tell you my other news...

guardins4peace writes:

I have been visiting your site on several occasions. I love your designs! They are so unique. I look forward to reciving my set. I'm sure my friend is going to love the earrings I bought from you for her.

Thank you so much for your kind words guardins4peace.

Now, for my other news... yesterday I found out that wyeth is going to let their contracters go. They did it once earlier this year and now it has come again. My contract was supposed to last until december, but they are breaking that contract. Now my last day at my full time job is Friday, October 24, 2008. You know at first I was really sad because I'm really going to miss the people that I interact with everyday. However, I know that I can work to stay in contact with them. Plus, I knew I was leaving in December. So now that door will soon be closed, but my window will soon open. And, I don't mind the climb because it'll make me that much stronger. As for work, I'll have a little more time on my hands to make more new and exciting stuff for Christmas, at least I will until I find a new job or go back to school!

Other than that bit of news...yesterday was really a good day! And I will not let it keep me down because there's more to life as Stacie Orrico would say or sing. Plus, joy, peace and faith grows much deeper than ones reactions to change :>).

Blog Giveaways!

I was searching through etsy's forums (during lunch) and I keep coming across giveaways. So! I just decided that I will create a section on my blog just for giveaways. I mean, who doesn't like free stuff?! One day, hopefully soon... I'll host some, but right now I'll let you know about the ones I've found. Just in case you haven't heard about them or found them on your own.


So, first up is at...
http://woolies-woolies.blogspot.com/

There is a post about a shop called MayBeads. The shop owner is giving away a very cute penguin necklace. The penguin is a beautifully crafted lampwork bead on a stretchy necklace. It's perfect for young girls and tweens. If you're interested, leave a comment on woolies blog about your favorite item in MayBead's shop.


Next up is...
http://10oneworld.blogspot.com/

The giveaway is for the winner's choice of earrings from PriscillaDawn. Priscilla Dawn makes anything from cloths and bows, to earrings and bracelets. If you're interested follow the directions on 10 one world's blog. Ends October 14th.


Then there's...
http://smilingfrogs.blogspot.com/

You can win earrings just by leaving your email in her comments, but please check out her shop too. Ends October 11th.


and...
http://marymarsh.blogspot.com/

Win magnets, paper clips, ponytail holders, earrings, bobby pins, a necklace, hair clips, or a ring.
Obviously MaryMarsh is very genorus. All you have to do is sign up for her newsletter! Ends October 21st.


and...

http://designsbycori.blogspot.com/

Win a bar of Lemon Verbena Salt Bar from Soapdeli! All you have to do is comment on your favorite item! Ends October 21st.

here's another...

http://whatrosemadetoday.blogspot.com/
Leave a comment and you could win a 1970's style bookmark. Come on I know you're really a book worm...lol. Ends Today. But you can check back every Wednesday!


Ok! Whew! That's enough for today.

Have fun
Jeeks

OMG I'm in another treasury!

Treasury 2! Yes! If you'd like to see it it's here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=13089

It expires around 8:21 today! I didn't even know!

I couldn't make a comment because there were already too many, but thank you so much KisforCalligraphy!

Better yet let me show you! Warning: it's a little wild!

Thanks lots!
Jeeks

Jade

Next up on our segment of DID YOU KNOW is...........JADE! (:>0)

The English word jade is derived from the Spanish term piedra de ijada (aka loin stone). It has been used and sought after in China since 5000 B.C. because it was harder and more resistant than any other stone at that time. Jade has been thought to be 1 stone. However, jade is actually 2 stones, not 1! Well, what do you know...lol. It is a combination of Jadeite and Nephrite. The difference, you ask? Jadeite has aluminum (Al) in it's chemical composition. Nephrite has magnesium (Mg). Jadeite is rarer, thus more valuable than Nephrite.
Jade has been known to have a beneficial effect on all glandular functions, it lowers fever and it has a detoxifying effect on the body by stimulating the kidneys.

Jadeite	Jade	Nephrite
NaAlSi2O6	Chemistry	Ca2(Mg,Fe)5(OH)2(Si4O11)2
pure jade= white with impurities= green, red, yellow, pink, white, violet, orange, blue-green and brown	Colors	green, creamy white, beige, yellow, blue, black and often contains veins of color
axes, knives, weapons, ornamentation, carvings, and jewelry	Uses	jewelry, carvings, bowls, vases, symbolic ornaments, axes, knives and weapons

*Impurities include : Calcium(Ca), Iron(Fe), Magnesium(Mg), and Manganese(Mn).

BEWARE!: When Jade is sold under names such as New Jade, Korean Jade, Stygian Jade, Pagoda stone, Mexican Jade, and Indian Jade, it is likely to be a fake! Also make sure the jade hasn't been dyed. If it has, it was initially poor quality jade.

Whew! That was fun!

Never jaded
Jeeks

Just A Heads Up

Hey! I was just writing a quick note about SkySong Creations. Yeah...if you haven't heard it's this new shop on etsy.com. For now on there will be new items added to the shop...get this...EVERY WEEK! Lol. Ok, that's enough promotion for now, but here's the newest item added (there's others too).

Introducing..........Love My Links!

Let this bracelet remind you every day that love doesn't always have to be singular, but it's linked to the many other hearts that you touch every day. So, spread the love!This bracelet was created using copper and sterling silver wire, aged to perfection. It measures to about 8 inches.

With many hearts
Jeeks

And the winner is...

Ok, the CRT raffle has ended. Here's a scratch up of the flier. And the winner of SkySong Creation's green/peach pearl necklace (# 5 on the list) is.... Debbie! Congrats Debbie Carter!

The raffle was a big success. Misty was able to raise $410 for CRT! Yay!

That's one way to save a life!
Jeeks

Guess what?! I'm in my 1st Treasury on Etsy

Hey! I've been absent over the weekend doing all sorts of things like cleaning and getting the car brakes fixed...it was so much fun! lol. Anyways, I was placed in a tresury on etsy. If you want to see click here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=13208. Be sure to check out all the artists featured. The treasury I'm in was made by jrdnart and it's called UNKNOWN ETSY ARTISTSTWICE. It looks a little like this-->

Oh yeah, see if you can find me. :>)

If you didn't know, the Treasury on etsy allows sellers and buyers to create a list of favorite items (made by others) to be shown. Once made it is shared with anyone who finds them. If a list reaches a magic viewed number or clicked on number it will hit the front page of etsy. The list itself only last 1-3 days.

(This list ends on Tuesday!)

So, click on people, click on. lol.
Jeeks

More On Etching...

I promised to post more pictures of etching, so here they are!

Here are some drawings...

And here they are before aging...

And here are 2 of the ones made before...incorporated into their own respective pieces.

Introducing......................................................To Love A Dove

And................................................................I LOVE You More

Happy Etching!

Jeeks

What's Jeeks up to now?: Etching

First up on our news brief... what's up with Jeeks? :>)

Well, recently I wanted to learn a new way of designing pendants. So I read up on etching methods. Basically, one can transfer a design using printer ink, by hand drawing the image, stamping, removing wax, or even by using packing tape. Next etching solution is used to "eat" around the nonmetal components, or rather to "eat" the metal components. Two examples of solutions that can be used are ferric chloride or hydrochloric acid.

Side note: If you ever decide to etch on your own make sure you read up on the methods used. Be careful! If you make the solution yourself or buy them already made... read the MSDS, or safety information for each of the chemicals. Make sure you have the appropriate safety gear. And also find out where the chemicals can be properly disposed. You do not want anything to go wrong that could harm you or the environment. And also, if there is ever a spill find out the proper procedure that is used to clean it up. It is always good to know what you are working with. If you work with acids, find out what bases can be used to neutralize the solution and if it's a base find the acid. Also, it's good to know if any of the products of a reaction are harmful and how to deal with it appropriately. There's only one you and one world so protect them both!

Ok, so I didn't get to take pictures before the etching and ageing process, but here are some pictures of the product after those processes.

Completely black! The next step was to remove most of the oxidized or blackened layer. This can be done by using steel wool and/or a polishing cloth. And this is what it looks like now.

So, experiment done. Now I have 3 cool looking pieces of copper. The next step will be to file ruff and sharp corners down, make one or two holes, stamp the backs, and to incorporate them into a piece. However, that will be left for another time.

Jeeks