Summer 's Here & The Time is Right...

Super Luv Beads

It's been really hard adapting back to a full time job. Let alone a job that is a one hour commute one way every day. ;-( But it is getting easier each week and collecting a well & hard earned paycheck feels damn good! Been slowly getting back to beading and I mean slow, since I am so tired during the week the beading tends to be put off to stolen moments  here and there and during the weekends.

I have quite a few bracelets from my Hip-E-Dip Series made and ready to sell, might start putting some up on Etsy this summer. But I will try to sell at the flea markets Larry & I are doing at Allaire State Park here in NJ, along with our STUFF. ;-) Just made another sell this weekend of two Hip-E-Dip-E necklaces and sold two others last month. I noticed I tend to have sales during holiday weekends... let hear it for Holiday Weekends, Yippee! LOL!!! I guess folks have more time to peruse the web over a long weekend. :-)

Peaceful  Daze Hip-E-Dip-E Necklace

Peaceful Sunshine Necklace

Sunflower Necklace

Well... till next time when I have the time. Have a great summer, I'll be back during those long Holiday Weekends. LOL!!! ;-)
Today's Photos Courtesy of Krazkat Kreations 2011

Been Busy with the Real World... ;-)

My Hubby Larry at one of our first Allaire flea markets in 2009

Been busy working at my new job and the commute is a killer, one hour to and from. Needless to say I have had little time or energy for much of anything except daily basics. Let alone blogging or jewelry making. Plus my old Mac was out of commission for almost 3 weeks waiting on a new power supply. Up and running now. ;-)
This week's News my hubby and I will be selling this n that at the Allaire State Park in Farmingdale, NJ this Saturday, April 28th from 8am to 4pm. Come one down and browse the flea market as well as the lovely Historic Allaire Village. We will be there bright and early at 6am to set up and in case of inclement weather during the day, we have our ever trusty 10x10 canopy to keep us dry and during nice weather to keep the sun off my fair Irish complexion! LOL!!! The flea market is a wonderful day trip and has many wonderful new and old items for sale. I will be selling some of my Krazkat Kreations too. See you there! ;-)

Working!

Sleep well Ozzy, Mom Kat is bringing home the Cat Nip! ;-)

Finally I am no longer going to be scrapping by! I am starting a new full time job on Monday and hopefully this will suit me at this stage of my life. A long commute but doable and no one has offered me anything let alone over minimum wage and full time. So I took it, plus a dear friend put a good word in for me too! I will be busy on weekends and evenings working on Krazkat Kreations I suppose, I suspect weekends till I get use to the early wake up and the commute! Wish me luck. ;-)
Today's Photo: Number Two Son Kat, Ozzy...what a sweetie!

Sorry... ;-(

I have been busy with a part time substitute job and have not had the energy or really anything new to say here. ;-( Been doing little in the Krazkat Kreations department too, other than some organizing beads, supplies and my thoughts. Will try to have something interesting to say in the future... but meanwhile...

Morganna's Tears

One of my necklaces has been featured in a Etsy Treasury and I am deeply honored. :-)http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzA2MjcxNnwyNDA3NjYyNTAx/from-the-pages-of-legend?index=0

There is nothing nicer or humbling than to be recognized by fellow artists and admirers. :-) Please click on the above link and enjoy the experience of Etsy and all the wonderful talented individuals that make it what it is! :-)

Today's Photo: Krazkat Kreations - Morganna's Tears ©2011

Back to Basics...

Just recovering from a head cold/sinus infection, self medicating with Alka Seltzer Cold & Cough. Can't afford to go to the doctor. :-( So, just roughing it out here. Feeling a lot better, last week was a bust on the creative front. Made a few more bracelets and a necklace, then the cold starting to hit me around Thursday super hard. Managed to get back to some chores here on Friday, then I was totally crashed out for the weekend. Just starting to feel normal (as normal goes) ;-) today, but will take it easy.

The sun is shining and I am hoping Spring 2012 is around the corner, No Snow...Please! Been lucky so far this winter. ;-) Need to get new items up on Etsy, perhaps a few bracelets...just a few to spark some interest.  This week I hope to get that done. Later my friends...

The Need to Bead!

Did a lot of beading this past weekend, made over a dozen Hip-E-Dip-E Luv bead bracelets for the upcoming Craft Season. My hubby and I are going to try a show or two at Allaire State Park this Spring & Fall, as well as a few Flea Markets there (we have other "stuff" to sell too!)

With these hard times and lack of steady work, we try to do the best we can and sometimes that means buying inexpensive items to sell or making things to sell... just a few extra $$ to buy groceries and what not. And the items that don't sell ("stuff") we either pack up till the next flea market or we donate to Goodwill. Sometimes you have to just say goodbye and be done with it. ;-p

I am making jewelry pieces especially for the Craft Shows and what I don't sell I will post on Etsy this Summer or Fall... need a decent amount of inventory for the shows, as well as a few good photos to submit with my application. It is a Juried show, my first. Meanwhile we have to save a few $$ for the applications.

Here one of the photos showing me beading this past Saturday afternoon. Making bracelets

Today's Photo: Krazkat beading 2-11-2012 taken by the "Hubby" :-) In photo: Vintage Fiestaware salad bowl in Ivory, Fiestaware 2000 mug in Persimmon, Vintage tablecloth with red roses

Ending the Week on a Good Note...

 As I turned on my little Cruz tablet last night, my email icon popped up and much to my delightful surprise I made a nice sale on Etsy. :-) Not just a sale, but three items were purchased from a lady with great taste in NYC. I guess it is true...folks in NYC have their fingers on the pulse of fashion! ;-)

Vintage Style Fan Earrings w/Czech Beads & Swarovski Crystals

Hip-E-Dip-E Sunflower Necklace

 

Hip-E-Dip-E Super Long Necklace

 Anyway just sharing my good fortune, which motivates me even more to plod along and to keep creating more Krazkat Kreations! :-) Hopefully today I will be able to sit myself down at the table and work on more pieces...so much to do and what not! ;-)

Today's Photos: Krazkat Kreations 2011

Bizzy Bee I May Be... ;-)

This n That

Been busy with this n that & what not. ;-)
Made quite a few sets of earrings & a necklace last Friday evening and in the works quite a few bracelets for the upcoming Craft season. I intend to try to sell at a series of Craft & Flea Markets this year...all at a local state park here in NJ. See if my Kreations have a audience... if not I will most likely just create pieces as gifts... or keep trying to sell on Etsy. Wish me luck...

Today's Photo: Bagged Krazkat Kreations, waiting to be photographed

Five Wild Horses...like a Rolling Stone

Yep, you guessed it listening to a NYC Classic Rock station and they are playing the Rolling Stones. It is weird that I tend to name some of my Krazkat Kreations after a Stones Song. My brother has always been the big Stones fan and I ever so casually, and that only because we grew up together. He was always blasting the Stones on his 8 track while outside in the yard doing this or that. So I got a very good education of the Rolling Stones catalog of music. ;-)

In a recent post I introduced a necklace called "She's Like A Rainbow" which is a swirling dervish of colorful beads with an equally colorful pendant, created from an old earring element. Very hippie or Hip-E-Dip-E. ;-) Last year a had a great necklace (or so I thought, it did not sell) named "High Tide and Green Grass", (actually the name of a 1966 compilation album by the Stones) which is now part of my personal collection and which I wear with fervor. :-) (and matching earrings, of course)

Recently, I dubbed my 2003 Harley Davidson Sportser 1200 "Ruby" after the song, Good Bye "Ruby Tuesday". But it was hello for me and the bike, another story to be told. ;-)

What Stones song will influence me in the future or near future? Who knows, because "Time Is On My Side" till then. ;-)
Today's Photo: "High Tide and Green Grass, from my personal collection 2011

Color My World...

Read a very interesting article on Fire Mountain Gems & Beads website today. All about designing jewelry that flatters different skin tones. Being about Cool tones & Warm tones. Very informative, here is the link:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=BB75&doccat=articles&WT.fmg_linksection=1T1N06RF4KGS2&_rid=219843.1704.509581&WT.mc_id=NL120131H

So I knew some about the difference between Cool & Warm Tones but the kicker is the in the first paragraph... veins in your wrist... Bluish veins determine that you are a cool skin tone, Greenish veins determine that you are a warm skin tone. I did not know that. You learn something new everyday. :-)
~ Peace Out

Today's Photo: She's Like A Rainbow - Hip-E-Dip-E Necklace that is available at my Krazkat Kreations etsy store: www.kathystuffnmore.etsy.com

Thinking of Spring... or Summer?

Who would not? Especially the past few days in the Northeastern U.S. with this unseasonably mild weather... sunshine, fresh air & no heavy winter coats! ;-D Well, maybe then it is time to think about what lovely accessory (jewels) you are going to wear this spring or summer. Right now Krazkat Kreations at my etsy.com store is having FREE shipping with any purchase in the Summer Beachy section of the shop. So...kick off you bedroom slippers, have a Piña Colada and dream about the great warmer weather to come and while you are at it...peruse the lovely warmth inspiring jewels at Krazkat Kreations - Home of the Klassic & Unique! Thanks!
 ~Peace Out

www.kathystuffnmore.etsy.com
Today's Photo: Citron Sparkler - created by shop artist: Trish Carlson (Trish is a dear friend, whose creations are also in my Etsy shop). Free Shipping on this lovey necklace

Friday Finally!

What a week! Nothing too eventful, but none the less it is finally finishing up. The politicians are very entertaining down in Florida, watch that every night on MSNBC. ;-)

Working on some new Krazkat Kreations and thinking about maybe selling at a Craft Show or two this year. But I need more items made before I can commit and of course some $$ to pay for the shows. They run about $50 per show if hosted by a non-profit, which is about all I can afford right now! ;-) The big juried shows run at $100 & up per show, not ready for that now. Have to take baby steps in any venture, that's why I started with my Etsy shop here on the net.

Just ordered some finding supplies from a local seller on Ebay, I made sure I purchase only USA components. Have to support American made products & businesses whenever possible. :-) It is difficult since so little is made here, but I noticed more and more items are American made, it is just a matter of finding them. I purchased from this seller here in NJ, vintagesuzanne on ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/hyeonbeads
She seems to have quality items, she is a beader and small business owner too. Take a look at her ebay store and I believe she has a blog too.

Okay time for coffee!

Tea Time with Mary & Fiesta

Ever since my lay off in July of 2009 and my friend Mary will occasionally come over for tea & talk. Today was Tea Time with Mary. We do this about once a month, just to catch up, chat, gossip (only a little) and throw creative ideas around with one another. We have not seen each other since before Thanksgiving, the holidays tend to bump Tea Time up a month or so. :-) But we do chat on the phone every so often.

Mary has a cup of tea (in a ring handled Fiesta Mug) of course... ;-) depending on the time of year it is always a different mug from my Fiesta collection. Today it was a Persimmon mug, next month I might just switch out to a Diner mug and then in March to Shamrock. ;-) (I have yet to purchase any Vintage mugs)

I on the other hand always have coffee during our Tea Time, usually in one of my 10 Fiestaware 2000 Persimmon mugs. Big 14 oz. mug with it's Asian flair and it's big symmetric handle. I say one of 10...but alas one endured a chip, then a hairline and it leaks. :-( Now it is a pen & pencil cup on my kitchen counter. A replacement is a click away on ebay for $20 plus shipping... I hesitate because the bulk of my 10 mugs were purchased from one seller on ebay for like $10 or less each...because I bought all she had! Bad Kitty... but it is what it is... when you are a Fiesta Fanatic.

We usually will have some cake or donuts or cookies with Tea & (coffee) and that is always served on Fiesta B&B plates too. Either Vintage or Contemporary... depends on my mood. ;-)

So today was a nice sunny & mild late January Tea Time day... See you next month Mary... See you later Fiesta... ;-)
Today's Photo: Archived Photo of Fiestaware 2000 Mug, Pearl Grey 2000 Disc Pitcher, Evergreen Presentation Bowl, Kitchen Kraft Cake Plate, Original Green B&B plate and two very curious kitties: Elvis (Siamese Snowshoe) & Trixie (Grey Tabby) Also in photo Franciscan Jelly/Jam Jar

Monday...Monday

What a blah day and it is only day one of the work week... Geez... Trying to get my act together to bead, but other things are distracting me... as usual. ;-(

Anyway... For you consideration today... these lovey vintage earrings currently in my Etsy store. All made in Japan from the Eames era (1950's). If vintage and clip-ons are your style...take a peek!

Today's Photo: Green & White glass earrings, Mauve Pink earrings, Pearl AB White earrings, Made in Japan, Vintage - photo credit: Krazkat Kreations 2011

What Not Weekend

Just hanging out this weekend, not much was done. Saturday spent hanging in the den with a roaring fire, sipping Java and cruising the net. Sunday visited my brother and his wife, had some nice homemade chicken soup. My brother is a very good cook in his retirement years! So, now home and maybe some TV and a movie or two. Tomorrow back to working on some Krazkat Kreations and what not... Peace Out and stay warm and cozy during this cold January winter's night.

Today's Photo: My cats Ozzy & Peepers... hanging out in the den. :-)

Miss Etta

Blues Legend & Rock n Roll Hall of Famer Miss Etta James passed away today. Her haunting song "At Last" is my favorite song that reflects how I feel about my love, my husband Larry. God Bless her. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/arts/music/etta-james-singer-dies-at-73.html

Image Credit: Rolling Stone online magazine - Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Little Red Bird

Well, today I had a pleasant surprise to an email I wrote yesterday. That email where I queried an woodcarving artist about a broken piece of his art I own. It is of a little red cardinal, that I purchased at his gallery in Vermont back in 1997 as a gift for my Mom. Well the little cardinal met up with one of my cats one day and was knocked off the end table where he sat. He was knocked right off his little natural wood perch... since then he has sat waiting to be repaired.

I thought maybe I could glue him on, but decided to Google® the artist and see if he was still around and still working. Yes he is and his dear wife Marlene wrote back to me and said to pack the little bird up and mail him back and Norton would repair him free of charge! I was totally taken back, how kind. Though his art is guaranteed for life, I thought a meeting with a cat was not part of the guarantee!

So what a pleasant surprise in today's email. :-) The artist is Norton Latourelle of Norton's Gallery in Shoreham, Vermont. Creative, Sweet & Whimsical is his art, pay him a visit today: www.nortonsgallery.com

Today's Image: Debased Little Red Bird :-(

One of My Favorite Things...

This post has absolutely nothing to do with jewelry, but my first love... Art. Wonderful piece of art from artist Justin Potts on Etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/memakingfaces

I just love Albert! Especially this version of him and the quote: "Imagination is more important than knowledge." -- Albert Einstein

Enjoy Justin's Etsy shop and Support American Artists!
Art Credit: Justin Potts - www.memakingfaces.etsy.com

Fabulous Jewels Expire Soon!

I have some fabulous jewelry pieces that will be expiring in the next few days in my Etsy shop. I may or may not put them back up for awhile. Very Unique pieces, several pieces from my SOA Series (Sister of Anarchy) for the biker chick in all of us... show stopper pieces composed of black beads, silver metal and USA made pewter skull beads! ;-) Very Basic, Very Bad Ass. ;-O
Plus other Klassic & Boho//Hippie pieces that are just plain Lovely and Fun! Please check them out today before they are outta here!

Today's Jewelry Items: SOA- Morganna's Tears - earrings and necklace- Inspired by the character Morganna from the BBC TV series Merlin.

Wedding Lovely

Just paid my Etsy bill, 3 days late... too busy fiddling around with whatnot! Geez... Anyhoo... here is a lovely Wedding Necklace Set I made last summer, currently available at my Etsy shop. Know anyone getting married this summer, that is not a conventional bride? She might love this one! You can find it at my store on Etsy: www.kathystuffnmore.etsy.com
I named it Vintage Wedding Bliss ~

January 18, 2012 Day One

Well today is the first day of my Blog and it took awhile to make the template to reflect who I am as a person, artist & designer. But everything in life is taken in small steps, right? :-)

Currently I am working on some simple, yet sensational earrings to post on my Etsy shop. Those composed of vintage and new findings. My latest necklace I finished the other day, completely composed of vintage crystals and a vintage rhinestone brooch, highlighted with some spectacular Swarovski bi-cone red fire opal crystals... Fire & Ice!

Then back to making some new rosary sets for the new year, first the Mother Teresa set which will be composed of Vintage French beads in blue and white, thus reflecting Mother Teresa's habit. With a lovely tri-connector that has a image of Blessed Mother Teresa on one side and the crucifix is very modern, silver metal with a lovely shade of blue enamel. This should be lovely.

Then onto a pair of First Communion beads for my nephew Danny, of course they will be very Irish! I have to get them done for his communion in May.

All the while maintaining the home front: Larry and the kitties, the house chores and looking for a full time job in the Graphic Art field (print media). Such as it goes...

Till tomorrow...


Today's Jewelry Image:  is my very own necklace I created from an actual Mercury Cougar key ring, a little inside joke. ;-)