No time like the present....

Actually, to me, time is a present. Fortunately for me, I spent all of yesterday cleaning my house from top to bottom. There is nothing left to be done. Nothing at all. Well, until it all starts over again, right?

So today is free day for me. Yes, I do need to run some errands and continue my starring role as wife and mother, but other than that it is STUDIO DAY!

I am very excited about this because, as you may have seen in my previous post, I attempted my first bezel setting. I can't wait to see if I can do it again! It is all I thought about as I was on my hands and knees yesterday, scrubbing the tile. Wooohooo!

If you know me, you know I love to just create.

And did I mention I am serving leftovers for dinner? Sometimes it is great to be me :)

Happy Hump Day!

Ack! I only had 30 minutes of sleep last night, I guess the acupuncture is no longer working it's magic! So I am just going to take a minute and introduce a couple of fun rings!

This is my Carnelia ring:




And this is my new Bird's Nest Ring:


And here is my newest bracelet! I think this one is really fabulous - The Bubble Bracelet:


Have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Jen

Took me long enough....

But I finally did it! I finally made some new bangles and I just love them! I kept this set for my self, of course, but I will be making more when ordered.

This set is called "I'm With The Band" named by Sandra of Sandra Eileen Jewelry For Your Good Life.

These fun and flirty bangles are perfect for your alter ego as a band groupie or to show your carefree nature to the other moms in the car pool.

A set of four hand-forged solid sterling silver bangles... light wisps of gleaming metal to mix and match and carry you through your days and nights...

and if you leave one behind somewhere, you'll still have three.


Perfect mixed with my other bangles or your own gemstone bracelet... or to liven up your diamond tennis bracelet -

Heck - get two or three sets and show them just how wild you are!!!

This set includes:

Two hammered sterling silver bangles
One beaded sterling silver bangle
One twisted sterling silver bangle


I hope you love them as much as I do! I wish you could hear the beautiful melody they make when they are worn!

Have a great Tuesday,

Jen

What a great surprise!

Today, I took a look a great Etsy artist, Rocki's blog and look what I found!



This is the Arte y Pico award and I was so pleased to see it from such a talented artisan!
You can find Rocki's Etsy shop here. Please take a look at her shop-you won't be let down!

Thanks so much, Rocki, you made my day!

-Jen

A Few New Things.....

I haven't had much time on my hands lately, but I have managed to come up with a few new things!!

The above picture shows off my new Lily ring,well, there are three in there! I just love these. They are so sweet and fun! I have been experimenting by putting them on different rings.


This ring is called Queen of Hearts. It is a lot of fun and perfect for the girl who likes oversized rings--and hearts!

This one, the Seeing Stars ring, is similar, but with stars!

Well, back to work.

_Jen

A Blond And A Torch Is Pregnant!!!!

As some of you know, my husband and I have been trying to expand our family for almost two years. It took a lot of praying and a lot of surgeries, but on April 23rd, 2008 my doctor transferred two perfect embryos into me as part of the in-vitro fertilization process. You can see the two embryos above if you look *very* hard. The first embryo is to the left of that tiny white arrow and the second embryo is the tiny white dot to the left of the first.

My husband, son, and I waited on pins and needles for 10 days to find out if the procedure was successful. I was told not to take a home pregnancy test for two reasons: Home tests test for HCG and I received an HCG shot a couple of weeks earlier and it would be possible to still have some lingering in my system. Or, the amount of natural HCG would be so low that the test wouldn't pick it up and I would be upset over a false negative.


Well, if you know me, you know I don't listen well. I did so well until yesterday, the day of my blood test. I woke up and knew I had to take it because we were so sure I was pregnant. Well, it turned positive before I could get the cap back on! I was so excited that I ran to wake up my husband and tell him. Then I started thinking it must be from the HCG shot I had had on April 17th!

Well, that meant I had to Google it incessantly to find out. Bottom line: I still wasn't sure!

So I went for my blood test and two hours got the call. I am pregnant! My husband and I are so excited! We called almost everyone we knew and let them know our efforts weren't in vain! Then we ran out out to celebrate with a big lunch and buy pregnancy books!

The bad part is, I am still not out of the woods yet. The baby/babies is/are in a very critical stage still. So I have to continue to take it easy, which I am getting pretty good at!

Anyway, I wanted to let the world know I was pregnant and hopefully give a little hope to those of you who are trying! It can happen!

-Jen

Tuesday's Teasers

Here is a look at some new items in A Blond And A Torch!

Yesterday I was accepted to Trunkt! I was so very happy because I have heard about so many people getting rejected. I applied at the urging of a friend, but I had zero expectations. Imagine my surprise!

Then I saw that I was in my first Trunkt showcase! Wheeeeeeee!

So of course I encourage others to try that were too afraid to! It isn't so hard after all!

Come visit me on Trunkt!

Take care,

Jen

On The Road Again

Sorry I have been neglecting this blog! I have been out of town this past week doing some important things and I will be leaving again tomorrow for a few days.

Hopefully I will be able to get back on track soon!


Have a great week!

-Jen

Lucy-Goosey

My dogs are crazy. But my Lucy is always really cracking me up.

I think she is trying to tell me something. She dragged their old swimming pool up to the back patio and has been sleeping in it.

What do you think she is trying to say?

Hello there, Beautiful Greetings!

One of the great things about Etsy is every time you look you will find a store you have never seen before. I found one today and it is fabulous. The name of the shop is Beautiful Greetings Card Shoppe.

I got a chance to speak with the owner, Peggy Russell and I would like to share the experience with you:

1. What is it that you make? I make handcrafted greeting cards for many occasions. I also do special orders for invitations and list gift tags. 2. What mediums do you enjoy working in most? I love to stamp. I usually make my stamps 3 dimensional and watercolor them for a soft effect. I always add glitter for a little sparkle! I am a glitter-aholic! 3. How long have you been creating your craft? I have been making cards for almost 8 years now. It has been a growing hobby for me and now is a lucrative passion. 4. How did you get started making cards? I started making cards when one of my best friends asked me to help her with her wedding invitations. I loved it so much that I ran out to buy my own supplies. I have definitely improved over the years but I still try new things all the time! 5. Where does the name of your shop come from? Last year I participated in a large Christmas bazaar. The application asked for a booth name and after much contemplation, Beautiful Greetings was born. 6. What would you most want people to know about your work? I make each card completely unique. My cards are never exactly the same unless ordered that way. I always add something extra to my cards such as 3-d characters, hardware, ribbon and of course glitter! 7. What words of advice do you have for other artists? Nothing feels better than selling your craft, especially if you love making them. Knowing that others love your work as much as you do is so fulfilling! Please take a minute and check out Peggy's shop, Beautiful Greetings. You will be so glad that you did! Whatever the occasion, Peggy has something special just for you! -Jen

Three Dollars Off!

I just love the simplicity of this little ring! I hope you do too because today only I will be offering $3.00 off if you mention this blog post. That is 20% off, making the cost only $12.00!

Here's how it works: When you make your purchase enter in your size and "Thursday's Blog Post" into the message to seller box. Then sit back and wait for the adjusted invoice!

And these rings look great stacked, so treat yourself to more than one!

Enjoy your ring!

-Jen

Driving Slow On Sunday Morning

Sundays are great family days for us. Always.

We go to church in the morning and then out for a nice lunch together afterwards. We talk about the happenings of the previous week and what we are looking forward to in the week to come. Then we hang out for the rest of the day.

This Sunday was no different. We went out to the pond and fed the fish and hung out by the pool. We could probably swim since it is always 80 degrees lately, but no one has been brave enough to try so far.

Anyway, might sound boring to some, but I just love lazy days like this. Nothing better in the world, if you ask me.









Here is the pool and I wish I had turned on the little waterfall for the picture because it is so pretty and relaxing. I can't wait to take a dip soon!









Here you can see some of the catfish coming up for the food my son, Jake, has thrown in. You might be wondering what kind of food it is. Well, it is dog food, not fish food today! Ha!



Have a wonderful day!

-Jen

The Ultimate In Stacking Ring Sets!

Seriously, I love this set. I am wearing it right now. Why is it so special? Because it is the Ultimate Stacker Set is why!

I took eight different sterling silver rings and threw them all together in this set. You get a little bit of everything:
one hammered band
one full beaded band
one satin finish band
one braided band
one twisted band
one half beaded band - oxidized
one multi-faceted hammered band
one multi-faceted hammered band - oxidized

This may be too much for you to handle, and I understand that. But don't worry! I have smaller sets available too. There are just a few examples below.


This is the Three's Not A Crowd set. It is one of most popular sets. It consists of three sterling silver rings: two hammered bands and one oxidized hammered band.









This is one of my prettiest sets, in my opinion. It is the Party Of Five Set and you guessed it, it has five sterling silver rings: two beaded, two hammered, and one braided.


To the right is Twisted. It consists of three rings: two sterling silver twisted bands and one gold-filled twisted band.





This is a set of three Dotted or beaded rings. They are super cute!



Ahhhhh. I adore this beautiful set. Eternal Love is what I call it because of the feeling it gives me when I look at it. It features two fully beaded rings and one 3 mm band, all made from sterling silver. It is so classy.



Well, I hope you have seen something to write home about. If not, Take a look at my shop, A Blond And A Torch, to see more!

Have a beautiful Sunday,

Jen

I Am So Square!

After having all those ROUND rings in my shop for so long, I decided I needed to SQUARE it up.

This is my newest pendant necklace, Squared, and I think it is great. But I am biased. I cut this square from a sheet of sterling silver, filed it so it would not hurt anyone, and then hammered it into submission. I put it on 16" in sterling silver chain with a lobster claw clasp and soldered everything on so it is very secure.




Earlier in the week, I also added some earrings. These are my Hip To Be Square earrings. I think they are pretty cool (of course!) and I hope you do too.

They were formed from 16 gauge sterling silver and hammered and oxidized. I painted on a clear coat of sealant to keep the oxidation of forever.
I made these petite ear wires from 22 gauge sterling silver and hardened them so they will keep their shape.


Well, I hope you saw something you liked here, if not, take a look at my shop, A Blond And A Torch, and hopefully you will like something there!

Have a great Saturday!

-Jen

New Stuff, Come And Get It!

Yay! I finally added the new set I was talking about and named it Quattuor. To refresh your memory, it consists of my Three's Not A Crowd Rings and one Dotted Ring. I just love this combination!

Another thing I like about it is that once you have it, it is so fun to mix and match with other stacking rings! You could add more Dotted Rings or more plain hammered bands, like my Azygos Ring, or and oxidized one. There is a lot of potential here.
I also listed my Hip To Be Square earrings. I just love these! They were made from 16 gauge sterling silver and formed in to squares. I then hammered and oxidized them. I made the ear wires from 22 gauge sterling silver and work hardened them for strength.

These earrings hang at an angle and I just think they are so cool!





I also added a new ring set, which I call Twisted. It consists of three rings with a twisted design. Two of the rings I made from sterling silver and one is gold-filled. They make such a cool, but elegant set.

I will also be offering these in all sterling silver or all gold-filled and maybe even two gold-filled and one silver. I am not sure yet, but there are a few possibilities to work with!

Thank God it's Friday!

-Jen

Snake In The Grass

Well, actually in the calla lilies.

I realize this picture will stop some of your hearts, and I deeply apologize, but I had to share this.

I was minding my own business last night, looking at my beautiful blooming calla lilies. Then this ugly brute above snaps at me! Eep! I am incredibly afraid of snakes, so I ran screaming into my house.

My son and husband came running, but then realized I was just acting "like a girl".

Then the doorbell rang! It never rings. I live out in the middle of nowhere, far removed even from my "neighbors". My first thought was an irrational one, "The snake is ringing the doorbell!' No, it was two wonderful ladies from our church.....and they were sniffing the flowers!

My husband and I ran outside to "save" them! It was very scary, but I did manage to grab a photo in the fading light.

Later, my husband and I got on the internet and tried to identify this nasty thing. The closest we could find was a blotched water snake, which is non-venomous. So we didn't kill the snake. And by we, I mean I didn't make my husband do it.

Whew! I barely escaped with my life and now I want to move to a snakeless area!

Have a wonderful, snake-free Wednesday!

-Jen

Still lovin' custom orders....

I have said this before and I will say it again: I love custom orders. I mean, the piece is already sold. No worries there. What could be better?

And I really like the set my customer came up with. She wanted Three's Not a Crowd plus a Dotted Ring. No problem! And I love how the four of them look together!

I am thinking of listing it as a set in my shop.




This is the Three's Not A Crowd set. Still one of my most popular sterling ring sets. It consists of two shiny hammered bands and one oxidized hammered band. I think of it as a classic!

This is the Dotted Ring set. It is a perfect addition to any set to add interest, or looks great on its own.



I hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday. At least it is no longer Monday!
-Jen

Alternative Metals

Sterling silver is beautiful, one of my favorite metals, actually. But isn't it fun to mix it up a little from time to time? Especially if it is less expensive, but just as jaw dropping?

That is what I decided to do. So I went for something a little different - brass.

These earrings are my Petal Earrings in brass, and I think they are lovely. The ear wires are sterling silver and it gives a nice contrast.




I was going for different with this cuff bracelet as well.

I cut this 6" long cuff from a sheet of shiny brass and hammered the heck out of it. It is about 1 and 1/2" in width and it just gorgeous. Of course, I may be biased. Your call on that one.





Another alternative to sterling silver? Gold-fill. What is gold-filled? It is not the same as plating. A thick sheet of 14 karat gold is permanently bonded to base metal, letting the eye and skin only come into contact with the gold! It is a beautiful yet economical alternative to solid gold.


With that in mind, I decided to design some pieces.
This is by far my best selling ring set, Uno, Dos, Tres. It consists of three gold-filled rings. Two are hammered bands and one features a twisted rope design. Lovely!







For other gold-filled designs, please check out my Etsy shop, A Blond And A Torch.

Have a terrific Monday!

-Jen

I don't feel dressed until......

I put on some earrings!

I don't know about you, but I just feel naked without them. Naked and ugly! So I am working furiously to try to come up with some more earrings designs, for you AND for me!

Unfortunately, taking care of a husband, a boy, a house, and pets doesn't leave too much time in the studio and current orders take precedence, of course.

But, Viola! I listed these beauties, Eternity Hoop Earrings, and I just love 'em. They are petite, about a US ring size 5 and I hammered them all over. What I really love about these are the ear wires. I am sorry to toot my own horn, but I just love the way they look and I think I will do some more like them. Unless you tell me they stink!

Now, remember, be brutally honest when you tell me how fabulous they are!

-Jen