New Original Designs...

Feeling so springy about spring. February is confident enough to handle more than its fair share of pink and frill so I think it can handle it. These and a few more will be listed at www.gaea.etsy.com today at noon!

Love Nut.

In spite of everyone in the house being sick, I am plugging along and making this...

It looks rather large but thanks to clays ability to shrink, it will be quite a bit smaller... Stay well!

The Winner...

It is always lovely to have people compliment your work, even if I am bribing you to do it! I drew a number at random....

Cheri said...

I love each of these new designs, you already know how I feel about your beads. Love them all...one of the reasons needing a sugar daddy...
I shared on facebook also.
Thank you for the opportunity..

Thank you for your kind words, Cheri! Please send me a convo through etsy with your address and I will get your set to you! 

Spring Ahead (And a Giveaway!)

The last few days have been like a spring preview. Balmy and bright. I can feel my vitamin D level rising. This burst of warmer weather in the midst of an unusually cold Souther California winter has left me breathless for new spring colors and designs....

These sets will be listed in my etsy shop Tuesday 1/22 @ noon (PST)!

As an artist I am blown away when you spend your hard earned cash supporting me and my original designs! In this way, you support a whole family, not to mention a community. I am so thankful for all of the support!

This is why the last set, I will be giving away. Please spread the word how every you see fit and leave a comment about your shout out! The contest ends tomorrow at noon (PST)! I will draw a random winner tomorrow afternoon! XO Gaea

Funky Fungi and New Designs...

A free project post at Art Bead Scene....

New spring inspired pendants and beads are heating up today, to be listing here next Tuesday 1/22 noon PST! Happy Friday! Have a great long weekend!

Happy New Year! Happy New Work!

Nothing beats opening a full kiln with new treasure inside! Soon to be bundled up with beads!

Happy New Year! (O.K., Back to work!)

Almost a New Year

I was plesantly surprised to find that I am now able to blog from my phone. Maybe itis my new phone or maybe blogger changed something, but I wasn't able to do this a few months ago... I have been enjoying hiking lately and finding little treasures growing along the trail as well as some lovely inspiration..

They Keep Splashing Me!

It is hours before Christmas and the new little fish pendants will not let me rest! So, I have gathered them up into my bundles and will be listing them @ www.gaea.etsy.com on the 26th noonish!

In Denial

I don't think there is any other rightful place to be when you lose a dear friend. All the years of friendship with Caitriona, and I counted 30 in all, you never think about final words or the last time we... So I sit here is total denial that a cherished friend is not around the next corner, or ready to tell me about what her 3 boys are up to or how proud or frustrated or adoring she is about them. Even after all the wonderful stories are shared and times spent laughing are reminisced, I will not believe she is not just a phone call away. Our Thursday breakfast ritual, in spite of the other amazing friends at the table, feels so empty. Her voice echos in my mind and heart, her laugh just out of reach. So, if you will forgive my talking to the wind or crying mid sentence, I will continue to be in denial about this deep loss. It is the only place for me to be.

Art Bead Scene Blog: "Fall Walk" Bracelet Tutorial

Check out my bracelet tutorial at Art Bead Scene...

Art Bead Scene Blog: "Fall Walk" Bracelet Tutorial

More Than Thankful...

I hope everyone had a beautiful day yesterday! I am so thankful to be able to help support my family doing what I love. I am starting a sale today and offering a 15% off @ www.gaea.etsy.com through Sunday. You can find the coupon code on my facebook page by clicking the "like" button at the top of my shop! Many thanks! Gaea

Gingerbread and Keys and Such...

Etsy update! Monday 11/19 at noon (PST)! Gingerbread houses, keys, and gift with purchase listings...

Ginger Bread.

Oh my! How this year has flown by and the holidays have jumped up on me like a bad dog about to take advantage of my leg. (Down boy! Down!) As usual I am running to catch up to the holiday train that has nearly left the station by adding jewelry to my etsy shop and making a few holiday theme "thank you" gifts...

Gift Mob

Did you read my post about my phone conversation with Beverly? It got me thinking... I had sent her a small packet of goods to enjoy. Upon receiving them she called to say "Thank you!" We spoke for a bit more and she told me how she rearranged her work space to accommodate her wheel chair. I also realized how hard it must be for her to get out and shop on her own (thus the need for a catalog). Here is my idea.... If you have a few jewelry making supplies that you are willing to part with (I know I have many things gathering dust!) and perhaps a paper catalog for your business or another supply company that you can part with, I thought it would be fun to surprise Beverly with a gift box of jewelry making supplies. Even a used pair of round nose pliers or cutters would be great! So if you are interested in making someone happy please let me know if you would like to participate! It would be good to get a box to her before Thanksgiving! Leave a comment or email me! THANKS!

Feeling Thankful

As I wear all of the hats in this little enterprise, answering phones and returning calls is part of my job. If you have ever had a job where answering a phone is part of your job then you may have had a call or two with customers that would not get to the point and you felt pressure to hurry them along. Goodness gracious knows you wouldn't want to make your boss mad! You can sometimes get a feeling of what type of call it will by by the tone in the other persons voice. Are they angry? Appreciative? Tired? When a woman named Beverly called and left me a message the other day, inquiring about a paper catalog I could immediately feel my stress level go up a bit.

Being expensive to print and not having many requests for them, I had stopped making them a while ago. It has been my experience that most catalog customers do not have computers and usually do their shopping by phone. I was mentally preparing myself for the disappointment of having to tell a potential customer "no" to their lovely request. I called her back and let her know about the catalogs and she asked a few questions. And then a few more. And then a few more.... I started to feel a bit impatient when she was asking me about the cost of goods that I didn't make or carry. Then I stopped myself and realized that all she really wanted was a bit of company and a little chat.

Maybe it was the sweetness in her voice or that she reminded me of my grandmother but something kept me on the line and I didn't feel the need to beg her off or hurry her along. In conversing, I found out she was in the path of hurricane Sandy and wondered if she was in harms way. She told me about her grandson and how he checked in on her everyday in spite of his working 2 jobs. He sounds like a good boy. At 76, Beverly had just discovered her love of jewelry making and was looking for supply catalogs. We talked for a bit about jewelry and magazines and children and missing grandparents and I so enjoyed hearing about her life as a foster parent and and just enjoyed how wonderful her positive spirit is. She reminded me of how lucky we are and how blessed we are. Her final word were "You are wonderful!" I will carry her words in my heart... Thank you, Beverly, so are you.