FLASH SALE FRIDAY is Finally Here

Today UrsyllaBs.etsy.com is having a fantastic Mother's Day Sale - 40% off everything in the shop and $3 shipping.  Post this blog article to your social media and receive special gift wrapping. 




On Friday May 3, 2013 UrsyllaBs will be having a "FLASH SALE" from 2 pm - 4 pm CST all items will be 40% off with $3.00 Shipping.  Use coupon codes "Flash" or "Flash1".  Click on the link at the top of the page and be directed to UrsyllaBs.

Snow Globe Winter Wonderland - Spring Snow Storm in Wisconsin

Well...it is still snowing - what's a girl to do? Go shopping on line?...LOL..... The snow started last night about 7 pm cst with a bit of rain and freezing rain.  By the time I woke this morning at 6, we had lost power at some point in the night, and there was more than 10" of snow - the wet heavy kind.  Our neighbor's birch trees look like weeping willows and the cable and phone lines look like a fat ship-yard rope.  I am posting a picture or two of our snow globe winter wonderland.  The clarity is not that great as they were taken with the camera on a cell phone; I forgot my camera at my studio - but you can get the gist of the immensity.   

The trees in my back yard; normally, I can see through them about 1/2-mile

The foreground is my cable line

New Listings at purplefishclaybeads.etsy.com

Today I listed a few new ceramic beads at purplefishclaybeads.etsy.  These beads have been fired and are ready for someone to create something beautiful.  They are made from rich brown Yixing clay.  The ceramic linked chain is made from green Yixing clay.  Yixing clay is a single fire clay body.  All have been fired to cone 6.  After they are purchased, I hope someone sends a picture or two of what they have done with them.  Below is the process I use to create the beautiful pieces you see on my Etsy shop.   I hope sharing my process will spark some inspiration.

Process:
1. Sand the pendant.
2. Coat in Swellegant Brass Coating, let it dry overnight.
3. Add Vintaj Patina coloring, let it dry a few hours.
4. Sand again.
5. Add another layer of Vintaj patina coloring. Of note: I add coloring until I get the affect I want.
6. Add glaze sealant.

Another Idea for Mother's Day

During the summer months I also am busy making wheel-thrown utilitarian ceramic ware.  I listed a few items on Purplefishclaybeads.etsy.com just in time for Mother's Day.  If the pieces are ordered by Friday or Saturday they will arrive on time for Mother's Day.   There is something comforting about holding a piece of earthy ceramic handmade dishware.  I love to drink my coffee out of a handmade ceramic mug.  Below are some of the pieces I make.  I take requests and special orders. 

Flash Sale Friday May 3, 2013 at UrsyllaBs.etsy.com

 

   Mother's Day is coming up soon.. so...

On Friday May 3, 2013 UrsyllaBs will be having a "FLASH SALE" from 2 pm - 4 pm CST all items will be 40% off with $3.00 Shipping.  Use coupon codes "Flash" or "Flash1".

There is a link at the top of this blog page to UrsyllaBs.   Mother's Day is May 12 - Shop early and have the gift arrive in time to surprise her! 

Post the "Flash Sale" to your social media and comment below how you posted it and where - and I will throw in beautiful special gift wrapping for your purchase.

Need a New Pair of "Favorite Earrings"?

Who doesn't need a new pair of earrings at least once a month?  Thinking back to when I first had my ears pierced and how many pairs of earrings I have owned since then....  Styles certainly have changed.  So many trends have come and gone, but rhinestones of all sorts seems to still be in fashion.  Earrings can be dated back thousands of years in history and have represented status in society to a bit of rebellion.   I thought it was interesting to learn that a Pirate's gold earring was used as payment for their burial.  Some of my favorite earrings are the evening-ware from the 1940s and 50s with the rhinestones and glitz.  I also love the more bohemian style earrings with mixed media and a warm earthiness.  Whatever style you prefer, earrings are always fun to wear and can often add just that little touch of pizzazz to your outfit. 

These earrings are made with bright summer colored Mother of Pearl Shells and dyed quartz.  The beautiful sky blue shells have hints of a floral pattern to them, the white shells have the subtle natural shell pattern to them, and the quartz gives it just the right pop of color.   I love the repetition of flat round beads and the bright colors. 

These earrings boast a wonderful summer green.  They are designed with Swarovski's Fern Green crystal hearts, marguerite lochrose and Antique Gold crystal pearls, as well as a coco heishi, all wire wrapped together.  The crystal hearts have a lot of sparkle

These earrings remind me of flowers.  Vintaj patina painted vintage filigree with copper drops and a dyed green jade bead are layered together to create these long delicate looking flower earrings.  The filigree looks like a flower blossom, the copper drops the stems, and the jade bead a single leaf. 

A Bouquet of Spring Flowers - Okay, So Not Really - But Close.....

I found this gorgeous dark teal leather and decided to create a bracelet with it today.  It's seems teal/turquoise is my favorite color today as I designed two bracelets with that color scale.  Both are bright and have a bohemian summer feel to them.  They measure 7.5" in length.  Both will be available for purchase at ursyllabs.etsy.com.  A link has been provided at the top of this blog. 

This bracelet incorporates the beautiful dark teal leather, a vintage double layer riveted filigree floral piece, and two vintage links.  All three have been riveted to the leather piece.  The filigree has been painted with Vintaj patinas.  The center rhinestone is a star burst vintage cabochon from the Alfred Weber collection.  I have added a yellow Cubic Zirconia, filigree bead, and leaf charms.  The chain is an antiqued brass etched. 

This bracelet has large filigree focals with crocheted floral pieces riveted to the filigree focals.  I then added rhinestones to them.  I left the antiqued brass in its original state without patina.  I added a dragonfly charm, a teal glass drop and a filigree bead.  The clasp has a magnetic closure.