Charms

compass

This is a new cuff I came up with. I had this idea to put a compass rose on a cuff for about a week now and I finally made it happen. It's fun to have the idea and then see it come to life. I used 3 different dyes along with some silver rivets to add some interest. This beauty will be in my store shortly.

Nice People

Have you ever met someone so incredibly nice and thoughtful? I mean someone who you aspire to be like?
I made this for that person for Easter.

Spring Inspiration

Almost every day I come home from work and start working on my projects. As you can tell I am pretty inspired by Spring right now. Flowers, butterflies, and sunrises. These little pretties will be in my store very shortly.

frowny face :(

Do you ever just have "One of those days?"

I know you do because you are most likely human.

I'm not sure if it's the rain or what but I think I should have just stayed in bed today. In honor of my bad attitude I will list what could possibly turn this frown upside down.

This would be an excellent day for:

1) hot chocolate. The good kind that comes from Sam's Club with the peppermint bits in it.

2) a good movie. I currently have a netflix sitting on my counter of Little Dorrit -Part 1. Never heard of it? Thats ok-it's one of those BBC Victorian dramas that is like 4-6 hrs. long. 3) a warm fuzzy blanket

4) My favorite sushi joint-Sake. crunchy crab roll and crab and mango roll. It's the same every time I go.

5)and maybe some red wine. I NEVER buy it cause I don't really drink but I bought some yesterday just because. This kind is cheap and tastes more like fruit juice than wine.

Just thinking of this day is actually cheering me up. Also, a lady just walked in (I'm at work) and brought all the staff homemade cookies! How amazing is that! Perfect timing too. Little did she know that chocolate chip cookies are my FAV!

Scraps Made Beautiful

I have been working on some new leather bracelets and each time I cut a new one out I end up with these random shaped pieces of scrap leather. I almost threw them away and then a few nights ago I decided to play around with my new alphabet stamps and started stamping words into the scraps. I cut around one of the words and then I got an idea. What if I turn these into pendants. Leather pendants??? I don't think I have ever seen one but it sounded like a neat idea. And so I came up with a few necklaces that I REALLY LOVE. So much so that I really don't want to sell them but I am going to none the less. Lucky you..or whoever it is that buys them. There is something about using raw materials and different textures like glass and wood beads-leather cord- and silver charms that makes me think of summer. Being outside and hiking or taking a trip to the beach. The necklaces just have a real laid back natural sort of feel to them.
Check them out at my etsy shop! www.faradaisyjean.etsy.com

Allison Rocks!

A while back I visited my friend Allison (in the above photo) who lives in San Fransisco. I was there for a long weekend and although I got to see a lot there was SO much that I didn't get to see.

My friend Allison is like no other person I have ever met. When she sets goals they are never small. She is the kind of person you want organizing your big events or raising money for your charity because she is willing to go the extra mile. Speaking of going the extra mile- she has decided to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Chicago, June 5-6, 2010. 39 miles folks! I know it's walking but 39 miles is sort of insane. The coolest part about this is that she has decided to forgo the gym and do all her training on the streets of San Fran. Her goal is to walk EVERY street in San Fransisco! Check out her blog http://allisonwalkssf.blogspot.com/ where she takes you on the journey with her by taking photos all along the way.

This map shows all the streets she has walked on so far.

And some cool photos along the way.

Cuffs Anyone?

These are two leather cuff bracelets that I am almost finished working on. All they need now are some snaps. You might recognize the top one from an earlier post. I bought a new tool that allows me to make crisper edges and so I tried this pattern again. I also created the bottom design the other day after looking at an Anthropologie catalog. If you look closely you will see this type of flower in the background on one of the photos. I just love working with leather and am always looking for new ideas to turn into bracelets.

Thanks Mandy!

My gracious beautiful friend Mandy traded me her torso for a haircut. That sounds weird ,but what I mean is that she allowed me to photograph her with my headbands on. She was such a trooper while I made her pose and look up, chin down, turn this way and that way while I tried to pretend that I knew what to do as a photographer. She did great and I am very happy with the pictures.

Packaging

I have been stressing a bit on how to package my items for my esty store. There are so many ways that you can do it and I have read articles on Etsy about how packaging is really important. I agree. I mean it's fun to get something that looks pretty in the mail.
Here is what I came up with today. I actually sold my first item this weekend!
I made my own envelopes and Christian printed me some labels with my logo on them.

Leather Work

I made the above bracelet a few days ago. I am really loving working with leather. The leather is a pale beige color when you buy it and then I dyed it this really great orange brown color. I accidentally placed the snaps in a way where it won't fit me. I am bummed! So I am making another just like it for me to wear. I might put this one in my store or I might give it to a skinny wristed friend. I plan on making some other designs as well and also putting those in my store.

Open for Business

My Etsy shop is finally open for business! Right now I am selling headbands and a few necklaces that I have handmade. Please check out my stuff and give me some feedback.

htt://faradaisyjean.etsy.com

I have named my little business fara.daisy.jean after my 3 grandmothers. They each have inspired me in different ways and when it was time for me to come up with a name this is the only one that would come.

Funny story-I told my grandma Fara what my store name was and this was her response " I went to a frame store called Frames and Thangs. What if you called your store Beads and Thangs?" Apparently she didn't like my idea. No offense Grams but Beads and Thangs is not my style. Haha...