Sunday, May 13, 2012

Flowers for Mom

It's a bit cloudy outside here on mother's day, but it seems like my mom's flowers are celebrating her special day with her. I have been working on a set of flower themed jewelry for a little while now, so I went out to take some pictures for inspiration. My mom's green thumb is pretty evident!



I love blue flowers. There's something about them that makes them jump out in every landscape!


This rose was fully open this morning and it was the greatest peach/coral/pink color. Absolutely stunning!

It's been a pretty great day so far, I hope all mothers out there are having a great day.

One last reminder: my 20% off sale ends this afternoon, so if you have your eye on anything (even the new pieces!) now would be the time to snag them!

Silver Fox Gems on Etsy

Happy Mother's Day!

Just aquick note to all moms out there: Happy Mother's Day! May the kids be sweet, the breakfast in bed be delicious, and the mimosas flow all day long!

I made my mom some one of a kind gemstone wrapped hoop earrings, with freshwater pearls and tiny gold fill beads. Hoops have been my favorite things to make lately, and they are so easy to pair with any outfit. Not to mention they can be made with any stone or material combination!


These are the ones I made her, she's always been a fan of big hoops and hoops in general. I may make a pair like this for the store at some point but there is a good selection in the store right now. My personal favorites are the sapphire encrusted ones! They are too prety to pass up. Check them out; it's too late for ordering anything in time for mother's day, but you can always snag a little gift for yourself!

Silver Fox Gems on Etsy

Monday, May 7, 2012

Beach Love!

It's been a great weekend! I hope it has been for everyone else.
My family and I ventured to the sunny beaches here in Florida for a little R&R, though that doesn't mean I didn't get some serious jewelry work done. On the contrary, it was actually pretty good for getting some pieces done that I had been thinking of for a while.
I wanted to share some of the great views though!

We stayed at some lovely beach houses near Port St. Joe, FL. It was the first time the dogs have ever been to a beach, so it was quite interesting for them, to say the least. They loved running on the beach, the wind running through their ears, but stayed away from the water. Something about beagles and water I guess.


They were pretty in love wit the concept of sand, and it was pretty entertaining to watch them get nowhere fast on their leashes when they tried to run faster than their walker.

And the beach! It was pretty empty most of the time we were there, which was great! It was pretty hot but the water was still too cold to get in. Still, a much needed vacation!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Handmade

I'm not sure who has heard about the (latest) controversy involving Etsy and resellers. I haven't weighed in on it really at all on the site, because there seems to be enough sellers doing that already. If you think about it, selling on Etsy, especially for a reseller, is pretty advantageous. Etsy has a dedicated group of buyers looking for things that are unique and, in a perfect world where everyone follows the rules, all of the sellers make their own wares.
I have mentioned in previous posts the benefits of buying handmade. You support an individual using their talents to make something out of love. A reseller, which is a loose and not always accurate term, is usually a larger company that has someone else making their product. To be fair, there may be small-time sellers who buy something wholesale and assemble it themselves, putting their own spin on it. This is, and always has been allowed on Etsy, and isn't a bad thing.
The problem isn't the existance of these entities, or having a company big enough to turn a profit large enough to grow that big. The problem is that Etsy isn't the place for them, and Etsy doesn't seem to be doing enough to keep them out. Granted, their investigations are private and that's also a good thing.
I guess what I'm really getting at is that there is something very authentic about something being handmade, from start to finish. Thought up, drawn up, items procured, and then assembled all by the same person.
So without further delay, the hands of Silver Fox Gems:
They aren't always pretty (espeically after a few painful hours of wrapping rondelles for chains) and they apparently don't pick up after themselves, but there you have it. Silver Fox Gems will always be one piece, thoughtfully made one at a time.
Food for though in a world so used to whatever you want whenever you want and however much of it you want.

For mom!

Mother's Day is coming up fast and time is running out to figure out what to get the one woman who really does mean everything. Nothing says you care like finding her something handmade, too! There are many benefits to buying handmade: you support an artisan who has spent much time perfecting their craft, and your item will probably be found nowhere else.
I scoured Etsy and found tons of items that would probably make any mom feel appreciated but I narrowed it down to 5 items. It wasn't easy but here are some ideas to make mom feel special on her day!
From tookies
Etsy is a great place to find food! The only problem is giving them to mom before eating them! This is a great idea for the mom who has everything already and who has a healthy sweet tooth. Or, if sweets aren't her thing, Etsy also has many options for more savory treats and spices!

From Blushie
Giving soap can be tricky. My advice is to never give anyone that you like a bar of regular soap from the grocery store. It sends the wrong message about the way they smell! So consider these! Over the top, fancy, vegan-friendly soap in an alluring scent is perfect for the mom who needs an hour to lock herself in the bathroom and get away from it all. The relaxing scent coupled with soothing oatmeal is perfect to get away from it all, even if just for long enough to get clean!

From njwcalligraphy 
There are few things more valuable than knowing where you come from. This is perfect for framing and putting in a place of prominence in your home. Not to mention the whole piece is created by a professional calligrapher who will hand write each of your family members, creating a tree with as many branches as you have people in your family!
 
From ToddAh
There's nothing like a good summer weight scarf to compliment any outfit. Infinity scarves are incredibly versatile; their shape does away with dealing with the ends, making them tuck discretely into a jacket on a chilly night or just preventing an end from snagging on a closing door embarrassingly! This one in a neutral pallet with small mint leaves will go with most anything!
From KisforCalligraphy
Ever the trusty fallback, a card is probably the easiest way to say 'I love you' on Mother's Day. Often given with a gift, it's also great by itself. Etsy is full of great card makers who make one for any occasion. The best part is that they aren't mass-produced, so it's likely she won't see it anywhere else. Plus the multitude of card makers ensures that you can find a card in any sentiment you want to convey!

I hope this was helpful. As I mentioned, Etsy is full of gift ideas. With so many different directions to go in, the hardest part is picking just one! (Or five!)

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Summer Sun and a Sale!

From now until Mother's Day enjoy 20% off anything in the store! Use the code TWENTYOFF and get the most important woman in your life something to remember! (And if you have siblings, gain some favorite child points!)
Plus, some new hoops are in the shop with plenty more to follow: