Finally Friday

Design-Seeds

How beautiful is this palette?
I loved working with it and made a necklace and bracelet set.

It all started with the etched copper birdcage. First I made the part with all the hand wire wrapped beads, then I strung the rounds to create the back of the necklace. I could have stopped there but I tried the necklace on and immediately envisioned 3 strands of beads dangling from the bottom of the pendant.

I am still working on editing my white background pictures but I think I am getting better.

Here is the palette for next week:

Design-Seeds

Make and item or choose materials inspired by the palette and write a blog post about it, post the item for sale, or post the item on your website. Add the link to your blog post, shop or website in the comments next week.

The only rule is that if you use the Design-Seeds palette you must link directly to Design-Seeds.com.

Have fun and I can't wait to see what you make!

~Shannon

Interview with Meagan from Brown Pigeon

I am so excited to share with you a wonderful shop I found on etsy.
I was looking to have my logo made into a stamp so I could have it on my boxes, bags, etc.

That is when I found Brown Pigeon.
I sent her an image of my business card and she was able to hand carve me the most beautiful stamp. She even set it on wood which is awesome. On the underside of the box lid is care instructions for the stamp and the box is tied with this pretty ribbon.
The owner and artist behind Brown Pigeon is Meagan and I wanted to share with you my interview with her.

Name: Meagan Lewis

Name of your shop: Brown Pigeon

Link to your shop: brownpigeon.etsy.com

What do you do? I create custom hand-carved rubber stamps. I work with a lot of small business owners, crafters and brides-to-be. I can make a stamp of someone's logo or artwork or I can design something personalized and unique for any event. I also have my own line of stamps that I sell in my Etsy shop and some local stores.

How did you get started? Just after obtaining a printmaking degree and moving back to my home in California, I began to make and sell handmade cards that I printed with my own hand-carved stamps. Soon I began selling at craft shows and people kept asking about the images on the cards. I quickly realized that people were more interested in the stamp images than the cards themselves. I decided to start selling my stamps and taking custom orders and Brown Pigeon just took off! I'm so thankful and enjoying every minute.

How long have you been doing it? Art: Forever. Etsy: about 3 years

What is your favorite thing about your craft? I love that I am making something that someone can use over and over again. I have so much fun working with people and hearing their ideas for a stamp. The entire process is enjoyable for me...from creating the stamp to showing it to the customer and hearing their reaction. I feel so happy to create something that is useful and meaningful.

What is your least favorite thing? Nothing! Ok, waiting in line to ship international orders at the post office isn't that fun. 

What would you change about your life right now if you could? Not much! 

Coffee or Tea? Coffee every morning and sometimes an iced tea at lunch. 

3 things people would be surprised to know about you? People might be surprised that I also love to do graphic design, photography and bookbinding...but there are only so many hours in a day! Oh, and I love to bake. ;)

Any advice for someone just starting a career in crafting? Make customer service a top priority. It is a privilege to make a hobby a business and what makes that happen are your customers. Let them know how much they're appreciated and your business will thrive.

Anything else you would like to share? Let's see...I'm working on a new line of stamps, so check out my Etsy shop often for new designs. And if you have an idea for a stamp or need a custom stamp, let me know. I'd love to hear your ideas!

Thank you so much Meagan for a wonderful experience and a great interview!

I love my stamp and will be back to order from you again because I am starting a second shop called Shannon Chomanczuk Designs.

If you liked this interview please share it with your friends, be sure to check out Meagan's shop and tell her Shannon sent you!

brownpigeon.etsy.com

~Shannon

Guest Blogger Wednesday

Today is Wednesday and I am guest blogger over at the Hudson Valley Etsy Team blog.
Here is the palette I was working with for the week:

Design-Seeds

You will have to stop by the blog to take a look at the necklace I made inspired by this palette.

I am so excited that it is already Wednesday because I placed a Vintaj order and it should be here *fingers crossed* by Friday. Would you believe I completely ran out of, get this, claps, jump rings and head pins! I am almost out of chain and I got a few other things as well. So I am pretty excited for Friday. I have been making due with out these items and I had challenged myself to use up as much of my stash as I could before ordering :-)
Hope you have a great Wednesday and head over to the blog:
http://hvetsyians.blogspot.com

~Shannon

Tuesday Tips - Tame Glitter

I am calling these tame glitter because although the gel polish color is very tame my client had me cover all ten nails in a beautiful sparkly glitter. They are so sparkly.

Q&A: I was asked this question last week:

OK here is a question for you--well really three questions. Do you make your own ear wires? If so, what gauge of wire do you use? 
The reason I asked is that I ordered some yellow brass wire from a shop on etsy in order to make a pair of ear wires as a special request by a customer. The seller indicated the wire was 20 gauge half hard, but when I tried to make ear wires from it the wire was very flimsy--though appeared to be a true 20 gauge. No amount of hammering made the wire stiff enough for the ear wires. I'm so disappointed. OK, third question, where can I get good yellow brass wire for making ear wires? 

-Do I make my own ear wires? The long answer is yes and no. I make my own sterling silver ear wires. I use 20 gauge wire and tumble them to harden. I do not make my own brass ear wires, those I purchase from Vintaj.

-Where can I get good yellow brass wire for making ear wires?

I am putting this question out to my readers because I do not make my own brass ear wires I do not know the answer. I know you have tried 1/2 hard wire and were not satisfied with the results so maybe try full hard. The best and worst part of brass is how malleable it is. This is great for wire wrapping but not so great for making ear wires. Do you have a tumbler? Tumbling metal makes it harder so if you do have a tumbler I would try that too. 

Thanks so much for sending in your question!

Do you have a question for me? It can be salon, nail, jewelry, business related or anything really. I will try to answer your question in my next blog post.
Happy Tuesday!
~Shannon

Echo Creative Club - August

It is reveal day for the Echo Creative Club. Jeannie sent each of us beads and we were to make something with them. You can check out Jeannie's shop here.
I was sent the most awesome package of beads this round. I was so excited I squealed in delight.

I opened both packages and from my stash I found this beautiful lampwork egg from Kelly Wentzel and got creating. I wrapped the filigree piece around the bottom of the egg, attached the key and the word tag to the bottom.

Then I wire wrapped the crystals and connected them to the polymer clay beads creating this long necklace. I added 2 lampwork glass beads which I also wire wrapped.

I also made this matching pair of earrings because I was lucky enough to get a ton of beads!

Thank you again Jeannie, I was so excited to play along the month. I had so many thoughts of what to do with these beads. I keep seeing a triple strand bracelet in my head so I may have to order more beads :-)

Here are the other participants:

Cindy Cima Edwards http://www.cindycima.com/

Dagi http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Lola Surwillo http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Shirley Jones Moore http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Finally Friday

Design-Seeds

I had so much fun with this palette. I made this bracelet:

I had so much fun with this bracelet! It all started with the etched copper crown bracelet blank which I made myself. Then I grabbed these fluted vintage lucite clear and gold fleck beads which I wire wrapped.From there I added some copper chain which I wire wrapped glass flower dangles each one has a fluted copper bead too. Then I felt I needed to add a little more color so I wire wrapped the rust colored glass beads.
I finished off the bracelet with a hand forged copper hook clasp and a wire wrapped flower, leaf and rust colored bead.
This bracelet is flirty and fun and makes the greatest jingle when you wear it.

Also, I am working on using a white background for my photos. This has a huge learning curve! What do you think?


Here is the palette for next week:

Design-Seeds

Make and item or choose materials inspired by the palette and write a blog post about it, post the item for sale, or post the item on your website. Add the link to your blog post, shop or website in the comments next week.

The only rule is that if you use the Design-Seeds palette you must link directly to Design-Seeds.com.

Have fun and I can't wait to see what you make!

~Shannon

Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!
I am guest blogger over at the Hudson Valley Etsy Team blog and I must say this post took forever to write and produce because I have been trying to use Photoshop to edit my pictures and I have been trying to photograph on white. Wow you have no idea how hard the whole thing really is.
Anyway, I know my photo isn't the best ever but I think I am getting more and more comfortable with Photoshop. It took me over 3 hours to download it to the computer I am using now that my other computer died.
I am also in the process of creating my new website www.ShannonChomanczuk.com and all that goes along with building a new brand, or changing an existing one :-)
I am having fun but boy is all thins computer work tiring. I have a new respect for people who do this for a living.

I hope you will stop by and check out my post:

Inspiration Wednesday

Have a great day,
~Shannon

Tuesday Tips!!!

Here is a set of super cute nails I did last week.
They are another set of acrylic nails, square shape this time, with mylar. I mixed 2 colors raspberry and silver mylar for this set.
I think they look shiny, fun and sparkly.

I received no questions last week so I am just going to remind you to use your cuticle oil everyday!
What shape nails do you like?
Send me your nails, jewelry or business questions and I will happily answer them here on my blog :-)
Have a great Tuesday and I'll see you next week!
~Shannon

Finally Friday

Design-Seeds.com

It's Finally Friday reveal time!
Above is the inspiration palette from last week and below id the necklace I made.

I used one of my etched copper pendants, an egg from SecondSurf, lampwork beads from 

Unicorne Beads and tons of Czech glass - some vintage and some new. 

Vintaj chain, jump rings and clasp finishes this necklace off nicely.

Did you make anything inspired by this palette? If so be sure to leave your link in the comment section below.

Here is the Design-Seeds.com palette for the week:

I couldn't resist these rich beautiful colors!

Design-Seeds

You have till Next Friday to make something (anything) inspired by the palette. Stop back here next Friday and add your link in the comments below.

If you blog and use the Design Seeds photo in your blog you must link to Design Seeds.

Have fun and I can't wait to see what you have made!
~Shannon

Tuesday Tips

Here is a set of acrylic nails I did last week. They have these blue strips of mylar encased in pink acrylic. In person they are so shiny and have a bit of sparkle from the mylar.

I received a question about gel polishes this week from a reader.

Q: I was told not to do gel polish on my nails because you can only file it off or use a tool and it would ruin my nails. Is this true?

A: Gel polish can be soaked off in acetone. If your nail technician has applied Shellac, Gelish, Opi or another brand of gel polish they can remove the polish with acetone or you can do it yourself safely and easily.

I have found Shellac gel polish is slightly easier to remove than other brands I have tried because you do not need to rough up the outer layer prior to removal. Saturate a cotton ball or a nail removal pad like these. If you are using the nail polish removal pads you just wrap these around your nails and wait 15-20 minutes. If you are using cotton balls you can hold the cotton ball on your nail with a piece of tin foil. Just place the acetone saturated cotton ball over your polish and wrap with a small piece of tin foil. Wait 15-20 minutes and wiggle back and forth to remove.
If your technician applied Gelish or another brand of gel polish you need to file the surface of your nails to remove the shine and break the seal before they will soak off. I use a 180 grit file to do this and gently file the surface of the nail until all the shin is gone, then soak a cotton ball in acetone and wrap with tin foil for about 20 minutes.
My tip is to get Pure Acetone from a beauty supply store like Sally's. I have found this makes all the difference. Do not ever heat acetone in the microwave or use in a room with an open flame as acetone is highly flammable!

~Shannon

Do you have a question you want me to answer about nails, jewelry or business? Submit your questions to formysweetdaughter@me.com and I will do my best to answer them in another Tuesday Tips.

~all of the above info is my personal opinion and findings. I have been a licensed nail technician in NY State for 11 years. Each state has it's own set of rules and regulations please consult professional in your state for state specific rules and regulations.

Finally Friday

Wow this week went really fast! I cannot believe it is Friday already.
I really love this palette and the photo is stunning.
I am sharing a pair of earrings which I made a while ago and are available in my etsy shop because I didn't get to make anything new this week.
I am hoping to get back to the bench at some point this weekend.

Here is the color palette for next week:

Design-Seeds.com

~and don't forget to add your links in the comment section below if you got a chance to make something inspired by this weeks color palette.

You have till Next Friday to make something (anything) inspired by the palette. Stop back here next Friday and add your link in the comments below.

If you blog and use the Design Seeds photo in your blog you must link to Design Seeds.

Have fun and I can't wait to see what you have made!
~Shannon

Tuesday Tips

Super shiny Mylar nails. These are acrylic with Mylar pieces encapsulated on the tips.

I had to share this photo of my beautiful daughter's sweet pink nails :-)

I was asked a question last week about cutting cuticles. My first response is Yikes! Don't do it. But I know some of you are going to need to cut your own cuticles at some point so my biggest piece of advice for cuticle care is only cut what is already dead tissue. Do not cut the living tissue at the base of your nails. It is there to protect you from infections. If you need to nip a hangnail use a sharp pair of cuticle nippers and place them at the base of the hangnail and cut, do not tear at the hangnail with your nails, teeth or dull nippers, this will do more harm than good.

My #1 tip for healthy cuticles is oil. My second tip is to take a washcloth and gently push back the skin at the cuticle area and around the nail after a shower, bath or washing dishes. If you gently rub a warm soapy washcloth around your nails you will exfoliate and smooth dry, dead skin. 

Then use cuticle oil and smooth on hand lotion for an at home mini-manicure.

Please send me your questions nails, jewelry or business related I will be happy to answer them as best I can on the next Tuesday Tips.

~Shannon

Finally Friday August 3rd edition

It's Finally Friday time!

Here is the inspiration palette from the week:

Design-Seeds

and here are a couple pieces I made inspired by the palette:

Tons of etched copper pieces this week!

Here is the inspiration palette from Design-Seeds.com for next week:

Design-Seeds

You have till Next Friday to make something (anything) inspired by the palette. Stop back here next Friday and add you link in the comments below.

If you blog and use the Design Seeds photo in your blog you must link to Design Seeds.

Have fun and I can't wait to see what you have made!
~Shannon