Bamboo/ Merino Yarn

Although my Mom usually does the majority of the blogging about our yarn dyeing, I want to as well. We are both inspired by very similar things in life that lead us to our color choices. However, it's kind of interesting that we have only duplicated each other a couple times. It's even more ironic because a good part of the time, we are in our studio, dyeing yarn at the same time!

Anyway, we have been sticking to our wonderful Superwash Merino sock yarn until just recently. We have expanded to dyeing a lovely Bamboo Blend yarn {60% merino, 30% bamboo, 10% nylon). It has been a big success in our shop! The yarn is fabulous and offers a lovely sheen that you don't get from the Merino, and it's still incredibly soft! Here are some photos that show off the beautiful sheen!

Foil-lined Beads

I have always been drawn to beautiful color, as I am sure lots of people are. I have found that there aren't many more beautiful beads that foil-lined lampwork beads. The colors are so vibrant, and the beads sparkle! Many of these beads are multi-color and I have found that it is easy to wear them with so many outfits. Also, because the beads are so beautiful they really don't need additional beads to make beautiful earrings.
I created a whole series with them because I found a lot of cool colored beads that were so calming. There are my Zen Earrings, Serenity Earrings, Earth & Water Earrings, and Deep Serenity Earrings.

Trees & Wood

My father is a very talented woodworker and I grew up enjoying that with him. I'd sit with him in his workshop as he made some lovely creation from oak, walnut, or mahogany. I don't think there are many things more beautiful than natural wood. I find myself very inspired when dyeing yarn. Here are some of the colorways I have created. (Red Oak, Purple Heart, Cedar Sequoia)

GOLD!!!!!

Em's gEMs now offers 14K gold plated earrings!!!

New Earrings

Perfect as gifts for a niece, daughter, or little sister!

Maple Leaf Earrings

I liked these so much I made several pairs of earrings and a few sets of stitch markers. I thought they make lovely Autumn earrings.

New Stitch Markers

NEW Stitch Markers

Sun Dial Earrings

I made these today and listed them in my shop. I have to admit, thought, that I am pretty discouraged about how my shop is doing. I know there are LOTS of jewelry makers selling on etsy, but I thought I would do o.k. because my prices are low. Well, I am doing o.k. with selling sets of stitch markers on Thank Ewe and that's a good thing.

Aventurine Earrings

New Stitch Markers

Dreaming Tree

[Inspired by the Dave Matthews Band]
[This item is SOLD. But we always accept request orders for sold items.]
www.thankewe.etsy.com

Firedancer

[Inspired by the Dave Matthews Band]
[This item is FOR SALE at www.thankewe.etsy.com]

One Sweet World

[Inspired by the Dave Matthews Band]
[This item is SOLD. But we always accept request orders for sold items.]
www.thankewe.etsy.com

New Earrings

Flower Earrings

Made these too.

Lampwork Beaded Earrings!

Bought some Lampwork glass beads yesterday so I could make some earrings. Here they are. I call the pink ones "Princess" earrings, and the others are "Moon" earrings.

Yarn on the Rack

I dyed 10 more skeins of sock yarn yesterday. But, with the rainy weather I can't put them outside, so here they are drying on the rack inside. It takes so much longer when they have to dry indoors. Hopefully they will be ready to start winding tonight and I can list them in our shop.

www.thankewe.etsy.com

Business Cards

I designed my business cards today! Here they are:

Group Posts

I decided to start posting individual pairs of earrings in all the Yahoo Groups I joined. Today I posted an ad for my Sky Lanterns. I think I'll send more ads for other pairs of earrings also.

Advertising

Still trying to get the word out there about my shop. I have joined a bunch of webrings, but as of yet am not getting many visitors. I joined two Shopping Rings today so maybe that will change once I am activated. I have joined many yahoo Groups that allowed advertising for anything on sale. I looked at a few Etsy shops today. I was surprised to see that individuals who sell jewelry making supplies are doing so well. One shop sold something like 6000 items since March of this year. I looked at that shop and have to admit they had great prices on some really wonderful beads! But I have decided to try to hold off on buying alot more supplies until after I start reaching more customers.
I also posted a message on my other Etsy shop, Thank Ewe hand dyed yarn, in order to peak their interest. I did receive an order from that, but am hoping more will follow. I didn't want to send out a large e-mail because I thought that was too soliciting. I definately don't want to annoy our yarn customer base. But, I may make some more sets of stitch markers so that I can join some knitting rings. Thank Ewe gets lots of customers because of my Mom's blog, Knitwit Central, so maybe I can pull some of them in to look at the stitch markers.
Overall, it is going very slowly. Mom warned me it would. It went really slowly for her also. But, one thing about yarn that isn't quite the same as with selling jewelry - there's an actual hobby involved (where as if you buy earrings, you just wear them). Alot more people discuss knitting projects that discuss what kind of earrings they wear.
I have listed the Sterling Silver Cherry Blossom Earrings on ebay. They are item# 230163821085. Thought that might be a way for people to see my products but only 11 people have looked at them in the last 2 days. I think that when the auction is drawing to a close I may attract more people. We'll see.
Keep thinking.... and blogging.....

Lantern Earrings Series {Only $6/ pair}

Simplicity

While looking through other jewelery makers' blogs, I realized something.... my designs are very simple. I seem to be attracted to jewelry that isn't real ornate or complex. The earrings I make reflect this FOR SURE! My taste in jewelry design is very similar to my taste in interior design. I like clean lines. Not a big fan of traditional, antique-ey things. Don't get me wrong, I think they can be beautiful, I just don't care for them myself. I like earrings that never look TOO dressy for a casual outfit, but always look pretty with anything I wear.

Fluorite Earrings

I made two pairs of earrings today. One called "Icicles", which consist of three different shaped crackle-glass round beads, and these Fluorite earrings. I really like them and made myself a similar pair. I wanted to list a few pairs of earrings that were pretty neutral and that you could wear with anything. I photographed these outside... I put them on a leaf so they would stand out more.

Cherry Blossoms

I made these today. Had to go out and buy more head pins, but I love them. Think I'll make myself a pair. They are listed for sale at http://www.emsgems.etsy.com.

Hooray!

Well, I am finally happy with the earwire/pin connection!! I looped the end of the pin and wrapped it! Yesterday when I was searching for tutorials about how to make earrings, there was some mention of wrapping but each time it was said to be much harder than just simply making a loop. Well, I found the loop to be the hardest part, and the wrapping was so much easier (and actually made a better loop this way). It was somehwat difficult to wrap a brass pin as the metal didn't have alot of give to it, but wrapping a Sterling Silver pin was a piece of cake. And... just like magic... my earrings look AMAZING! (sorry for the lack of modesty). I was quite distressed over how to make an earring end connection look good, but now I know how. here's a pic!!