So a New Year begins! And at the end of January, the Chinese New Year begins. Today my friend Amy and I made an impromptu stop at Lillian Hong's stall at the old 99 Ranch center. Amy was looking for a jade gourd, otherwise known as a Wu Luo since she lost hers. Of course, it was a good opportunity to get a charm for me for the New Year. And of course, I couldn't just get ONE. Here's what I ended up with.

I included a boar for Beryl, a Dragon for Mardi (and also because I love dragons), a Rat for me, a crystal for positive energy, a bell for waking my guardian angel, coins for prosperity, a chili pepper for abundance and double eternity knots: one in jade and the other in cord. Whew! I love it though! That lady is just a wealth of information!
So Gung Hee Fat Choy! Happy New Year!

I made only a few pieces of jewelry after January 1 since I spent the New Year's week with my family in Hilo. (I was also very sick just prior to that. Nasty, nasty sinus infection that made my head feel like lead and bronchitis.) And I made a special wedding card for my friend Jerome who married his long time partner Terry in Maui just after Christmas...yes, that means I'm late with my card and gift. Now that Hawaii is recognizing same sex marriage it seems lots of folks here are getting hitched. So here's what I did so far...

Copper and pearl, niobium ear wires

Kauai Beach Glass, sterling

Silver filled with pearl

Silver filled with apatite

Shells, Kauai beach glass on leather

Congratulations Jerome and 

I am planning to be better this year about posting on this blog. I also plan to actually put my pieces in my Etsy store that's been there for years with nothing in it. Ha! We all know how successful I've been so far...so wish me luck!!!

The other day I decided it was a good day to practice my picture taking skills.

Thanks to my neighbor, Mrs. Ikehara. For tolerating me. 

Top and Bottom: Pink and Yellow Hibiscus.

sun azalea

Pele's hair (hinahina)

white azalea

Pineapple plant...sorry no fruit just now.

Phalaenopsis

The Diamond Head Arts and Crafts fair is now over and I'm still in recovery mode. It was a little rainy this year and we were a bit worried that no one would come out but by the middle of the day the sky got clearer. 

Early morning...the sky was heavy with probable rain

So far, so good. Mostly just drizzles. 

The rustic "chandelier's" fared pretty well

Here's the chandelier with the plants and lights on.

I wasn't allowed to sell it with the lights or the plants.

This is one of 4 Lillies and Leaves neckaces. I  had so much fun making these.
It was some time ago ... when silver was so much more inexpensive.

In an effort to catch up, here's my latest paper projects...

SVG cuts haunted house. The ghosts and the moon are painted glow in the dark. My mistake: black moon. 

The major construction on the castle is completed but I have to embellish, add the banners and flags. But it may have to wait...'cause...

Busy at work trying to get things ready for the craft fair. These are just some of the samples that went out for screening night. Boy, what an affair that was. So many rules and regulations make it not as fun as it used to be. It's not like we're big business here...we're just small potatoes. Guess I'm just getting old, huh?

Darcie's designs, season pins. Thanks Darcie, for the blessings to make these!

Inspired by one of Roxanne's pins on Pinterest...done my way. She now owns the one on the right.

Prehnite earrings, sterling silver

Wired button headbands and sewn headbands

Okay, so this one is not going for sale, but I'm thinking of stamping some of these to put jewelry purchases in. Hand stamped and colored with Copics. Yes, Copic...but heat set. The inkpad used: Memento Luxe (Tsukineko) and heat set.

My take on a garden/earring/whatever rustic chandelier

I realized I had no bracelets to take to the screening, so here's my 15 minute samples. Whew!!!

DVD Notebooks, inside

DVD Notebooks, outside

Here's the mini chandelier. Pele's hair inside, but according to the fair rules, I can't sell it with the Pele's hair. HA!

I made these to match the DVD notebooks. They're just like the Avery ones you can get in the office stores!

This was last night's project. I stopped by The Bead Gallery for and Instagram class and picked up my gem club special for the month. It's a fluorite dagger. I caged it in wire and added a "topper" to soften it up.  The photo is also filtered...something we learned in the Instagram class. Boy, do I have a lotta learning to do!

Today's project

I have a baby shower to go to tomorrow. I decided to make a few favors for the event. Baby booties using Basic Grey "Paper Cottage".  I had to make the candy fit the opening...no mean feat considering I didn't allow myself to tear the paper in doing so.

Front view

Wow! I'm finally back into production after almost 4 months of reorganization of all my "stuff". Yes, I have been told that I could open a store. And yes, I probably could. But even though I now have a warehouse of sorts and a neater work area  it's not "pretty" by any means so don't start looking for it in a "Where Women Create" magazine.

The Paper Corner...yes ALL PAPER and only some of  the inventory!

Rubber Stamp Lane.  These are only wood mounted ones...the clears and unmounted are elsewhere!

Jewelry Row

Arts and Crafts, Mixed Media and Sewing

Paper Punches in the library card catalog and....more paper! And reference material.

The Jeweler's "Bench"

Yes, I need two computers and 5 screens and 3 printers. (The scanner is hiding)

Sewing corner...and yes, that is a typewriter over on the right.

The pounding/soldering/fusing cart...thanks Jamie and Jason!!!

This month's card swap...theme: Back to School

#4 Hard Drive series...this was donated to the Gay Men's Chorus of Honolulu for silent auction.