My stick family

Ok, so I now have another new project! Along with the Build A Nest Series, we'll be putting out Stick Families!

You know those window decals on cars that show family members and pets? Now you can wear them on you too! These will be perfect for Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Birthdays, Grandparents Day, Bosses Day, ANYTHING DAY!

They'll be available in:
Key chains (mainly for the men)
Copper disc necklaces
Silver disc necklaces
Cuffs

Plenty of variety without overpowering! As always, they'll come gift wrapped (boxes for necklaces and organza bags for cuffs and key chains) and come with polish pads. I apologize to those who haven't gotten them lately. I've run out of them because I didn't expect Mothers Day to be so busy!



I'm very excited for these! I also want to make sure it's known that angels will be included in there as well. Those of us with angel babies (or spouses) often don't get the chance to recognize them in a special way like this.

You'll also get to put names on the discs if you'd like!

I'll try to not overwhelm you with the options and keep it nice and simple, but I am known for going overboard ;-)

Happy weekend!

The birthstone pearls came in yesterday! They're all so beautiful.


Yesterday was probably one of my busiest days. I got out 7 orders, made three necklaces for another and two for my sister in law! Tons of fun and pain. My wrist is starting to poop out again, but it's so worth it!

Here's what I was able to get done yesterday.


And got them all put into their respective bags.


And got my sister-in-laws necklaces all prettied up and finished!

Not the clearest pictures, but the one on the left says "Faith not fear" and the one on the right says "I love you a bushel and a peck".

Well, I only have a few things to do for the weekend, so...relaxation, here I come! Maybe....

The Holiday Weekend Is Upon Us

So much going on around the house. Aside from the 15 orders in the last three days, it's madness! Haha.

Three sets of family are coming in for the weekend, my best friend is coming home from a deployment, I got a new camera and I'm expecting my wonderful shipment of birthstone pearls tomorrow! It's going to be an insane weekend, but I will get all the orders out!

Here are a few things going on around here.






I have 5 or so more orders going out tomorrow and I need to work some more on the washers for the wedding order!

Have a great weekend. I'll be showing off some beautiful pearls tomorrow night!

Today is the reason

This little business of mine would never be what it is without the first driving force. The reason I started it all. My loss. My last loss was April 19, 2010. Today has been one year. It's also been 6 years since my grandfather passed away.

Both of these impacted my life greatly.

When I just started making jewelry, it was beaded and mainly for fertility purposes. I also made a couple small loss memorial pieces. Since then, I've expanded to stamped metals so the memories will forever be ingrained into something tangible. Something you can hold and carry and love. I know how important that is.

This was my very first piece of loss jewelry


Since then, I've been working on creating new pieces that show all kinds of emotion. It's all about the story behind the piece. And that's why I love what I do.

"Office" makeover?

I'm slowly getting there. I have all these ideas, but no way to do them! Haha. Anyway, I ordered the new 70 Hole Design Stamp Holder from Beaducation and it came in yesterday! I love it a bunch. I didn't realize how many stamps I had until I put them all in here. Looks like I needed it.



Right now things have slowed down a bit for the weekend and I've been doing a few things to help spruce the shop up. I redid all of the design and font examples, made a few new products and snapped photos. So, my mission is to list the new items, put up the new photos, change a photo in most of the ones with plated chains for the other options, clean my desk (EEK) and think of better ways to organize this crazy corner I call an office.

Will I do it? Maybe. Should I? Yes.

My mind has now become preoccupied with the news of getting DC as our new home this fall and thinking of all the stuff I can't wait to get rid of around here! Haha. That's all that moving is, a big reason to clean out all the old junk in your house.

More and more!

Well, when I got the idea to do the Build A Nest necklaces I really wanted to do birthstones on the inside. The Swarovski crystals don't really look the greatest inside and pearls are/were hard to find in the right shades.

I'm happy to say, though, that last night I found them all. At least as close as I can get. I ordered them and they should be in soon!

I've been playing around with the stamps and blanks I won in the Beaducation giveaway and I made up this adorable little cog wheel, angel wing and dog tag. The angel wing and dog tag blanks were not part of the prize, but the stamp set was! I love this lower font.

It's like Build-A-Bear...only not!

I'm happy to say that I'm finally ready to put it out! The new Build A Nest line. You choose everything about it.

You'll choose the wire, chain, pearls and if you want name tags on them! Check it out!

Silence

Please forgive my silence over the last few days (it's ok, you know you were checking in every hour, lol). It's been an emotional roller coaster of a week and orders have started flowing in for Mothers Day.

Next week, Tuesday specifically, will be a shared anniversary that I'm dreading. It's the anniversary of my grandfathers passing and my most recent miscarriage. April 19th. It's been hurting me and taking over my mind when it can. I miss them both so much.

I think back to all the things my grandfather has and will miss. More grandchildren, a great grand child, my marriage, my husband, my dating my husband. My moving and starting a career on my own. My husband joining the Army and us starting a very exciting life. So much. Too much. It hurts to say I only have three pictures of him. Turns out, everyone else was taking the pictures and I only got left with memories. Hopefully that will change. I need to see his face more.

I think forward to what life would have been like, right now, this moment, with two children. A nearly 5 month old and a two year old. I certainly wouldn't be awake right now. But then again, I probably wouldn't have my business right now. Life would be completely different. I'd be up at 12am for feedings and bad dreams, not writing blog posts and responding to convos on Etsy. I wouldn't be a contributor to a loss blog. I wouldn't be doing a lot of things, but then again I would. They'd just be so different. Who knows what it'd be like. I can only imagine.

I'm still working on the Build A Nest line. I have 90% done. The last 10% will be done tomorrow! Listings will go up tomorrow night I hope. I still need to change to plated for all the others. Sigh. So much.

Until later today, good morning and I hope you all are sleeping well.

The end of the weekend

The beautiful weekend is coming to a close. The weather was just right, packages went out and a couple orders came in. Must say, overall a pretty great weekend. Granted I got no cleaning or laundry done, but that's ok, I got to have fun.

Tonight the big changes will start. All chains will be changed to a standard of silver plated with copper or black as an optional change. Sterling sill be a separate listing as an upgrade.

I'm going to work on taking better chain photos today and work on getting the new design stamps on the example sheet. It's going to take a lot of work on my end, but it will save you money and time!

The next big task is the build a nest. I've been dragging my feet a bit because I didn't know how to set it up, but now, I think I know!

There will be one listing per option. For example, there will be a listing for one nest with one pearl with one name tag (birthstone optional). In the listing will be all the chains, nest and pearl options and stamp options. There will be a picture example as well.

Well, I'm off to finish the weekend and see the parents who just came back from Mexico! Take care

Learn with me

With a husband starting military and the government doing haywire, I've decided I need to crack down on our non-existent budget, get it figured out and work on being a couponing expert! I'm a stay-at-home mom with a husband working part time and going to school full time. I think it's safe to say I can work on saving money.

So, step one:
Hammer out a budget


Step two:
Read this FREE E-book from commonsensewithmoney.com


Step three:
GET COUPONS!!!



While I wont discuss the specific monthly numbers of income or expenses, I will talk about what I save at the store, where it hits and fluctuates the most.

We have the basic expenses of Rent, Water, Verizon, Gas and Electric, TV, Credit Card and car insurance that come out monthly. We also have the fluctuating gas for the cars and food.

As it is, we spend anywhere between $450-$500 a month in food. We do not eat out often and Noah and I are home all day, this contributes to the high number, plus the 'sack lunches' that Aaron takes with him. Also, don't forget all the snacks that are munched on throughout the day by all of us.

I'm going to do some research....I'll be back later!

New chains!

They're all here! I'm very happy with them. Now there is a total of 9 chain options that will be used in the "build a nest" addition. I'll also be working on getting them in with more pieces.

Additionally, soon, I'll be changing everything to plated and having a sterling "upgrade" available for purchase. This will lower costs and maintain the beauty of all the items.



This puts the current chain options at:

Black ball
Copper link
Copper ball
Silver plated link
Silver plated ball
Silver plated snake
Sterling link
Sterling ball
Sterling link

I've also worked up a very personal design. When a mother elephant loses her baby, the entire herd surrounds her and supports her for as long as she needs. That's what's behind this necklace. Strength, support and love. Something every woman needs after losing a little one or a loved one.



I have it available in all sterling and sterling with a plated chain. I'm hoping to find other metals to bring the price down and expand the options for this particular piece.

We have a winner!

Thank you everyone who entered! I'm very excited for these two new products and possible lines to be coming out in the shop.



Congrats to DCWJes!!!!!!!

Jes was number 10 on the list and was picked by the random number generator! So, Jes, when you know which you'd like and what how you'd like it personalized, shoot me an e-mail to noahsarkcreations @yahoo.com


All the new chains are now in, so that means it's time to get BUSY!!! I'll be back later with more details. Until then, here's a preview of what's to come.

::chirp, chirp::

Sorry! I've been very busy! Just started an order of 120 washers to have out the first week of May. Also working on the nests and Mothers Day projects.

Waiting on the last of the chains before changing the whole shop around, but you can bet that'll keep me busy too!

DON'T FORGET!!!! Tomorrow ends the giveaway and the winner will be announced on the morning of the 5th!!


Cause everyone loves toddlers mowing the grass