What's new, pussycat....woooaoaoaaa

As I buckle down to focus on the last 3 months of my program, which means that all I will have time for is to Tweet and occasionally blog how horrible my life is, I decided to take this weekend and focus on my Etsy shop.

Friday I was able to drive myself through the horrible rainy day to the Toronto convention centre for the Bead Oasis Show. Being around all of the beads and materials, inspired me for this very productive weekend.

Let me present the "Silk" collection, now in Peach Freshwater Pearls!!!



The Necklace available here!



The very popular Stud earrings
I am very excited that several brides all over the world will be wearing the Creamy white "Silk" studs on their special day!

And the dangly version of the earrings will be available in the next week



Lets hope that the next 3 months are a lot less painful than I imagine them to be...my promise to myself is that once I am done I will start painting again. That would be 3 years since I last held a paintbrush

New!!!

Brand new in the Shop!



"Silk" Earrings



Luscious - in Chocolate Mint



Luscious - Earrings in Orange

A good day...

I worked really hard today and my poor fingers really hurt from wire wrapping and opening / closing jump rings.

I promised myself to do my best to update the Shop! almost daily with new items this summer.

And this is what you should expect in the next week:


New "Joy" earrings in Red and White



Brand new 'Dew Drops' earrings



"Sugar Cubes" - these are just listed !!!! Click Click Click for them

And



"Simply Yours" set. It will be sold separately!!!

And now I need to work on some new art work to mix in between the jewelry!

Giving can be better than receiving...

Lately I have been trying to give a little to do the world. I don't have money for donations and hardly time, but it is worth the effort and right now my time is easier to go without. One day I will love to be able to write the big anonymous cheques but until that day I will give you my time.

For the past month I have been volunteering every Tuesday as a Big Sister to a 10 year old boy. Together we join other coworkers of mine and their 'littles' for a fun 2-3 hour activity. We went hiking in the rain this Tuesday, glow in the dark mini putting, visited a boring museum... overall a little fun.

I don't have a lot of (well any) experience with kids and this experience has taught me to never try to take care of 20 boys at the same time.

But at the end of the day to see their smiles warms the heart and makes me feel that I have done something to make someone else happy.

Also in the theme of giving back, one of my coworkers is planning to Walk for Boobies

in order to help find a cure for breast cancer. She needs to raise $2,000 in order to participate. Since I am not financially able to write the cheque I want to and fully respect her cause, I am doing the next best thing I can...
Meet the Walking for Boobies Necklace


It's hand painted wire wrapped sea glass and the entire purchase price will be donated to Liz and her walk. I can make a few of these so please don't be shy in ordering more than one ;)
Feel free to share this or even send a direct donation to Lis through her site ;) Every single dollar will bring her closer to her goal and everyone closer to a cure!

Anything but...

Studying...
I should have tests more often because while "studying" I manage to get a lot of different things done

Frame the print my Dad purchased a few months ago...



Update the Shop! with new "Fresh" earrings to replace the ones that sold last week. They are not identical to the original and I had to make a fresh "Fresh" pair ;)




And also get this beautiful Sea glass pendent ready to list



See very productive, just not doing what I should be doing...

Update

Really if you would like a quick and up to date account on what I am up to visit my little Twitter page ;)

I have been incredibly busy with everything else including dreaming of working on art work but actually creating.
I recently managed to get out the ink and turn out a new Lino and woodblock print



"Dreaming in Green"

Now I have a big Case exam on May 14th, and instead of studying I have been sitting around and simply shooting myself in the foot, since this is a career defining exam.
Good job me, now I wish I can find some motivation & concentration.
I hope to get out of work by 4pm tomorrow, and spend 2 hours studying at a coffee shop prior to picking up my Little Brother for our weekly 2 hour activity. I think I forgot to mention, that I am volunteering as a Big Sister & it has been challenging.

Sometimes...

Ever think really hard about someone and they end up calling you the next day? Just out the blue, someone perhaps you didn't think you would ever see again...

Anyways, this was a weekend filled with moments, for lack of better way to describe it.

Saturday night I celebrated my best girl's birthday with a night of dancing. I was a bit of a 5th wheel since it was two couples and me but hey I tend to have fun no matter what.
I made her this little necklace as a present


I really like this shot of it



I also had one more shell bead and made a similar necklace for the Shop!




Sea and Sky necklace

10 more days...

'Joy' Earrings
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

I can almost smell the freedom. Imagine that a few months without my Accounting textbook to keep me company every night and weekend.

Any spare minute that I have, I am trying to prepare for my craft show on the 27th. Yesterday I made earrings and created this new design, "Joy".
I only have enough to make only these, so they are One of a kind for the next little while. My goal is to create as much inventory as I can without buying new supplies. I do have them in pink too, but I will keep them for the craft show, if they don't sell I will list them.
They are very cute and fresh ;)

ok back to the book..........

where does time go....

Just For You - Moleskine Journal
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

it passes too fast to realize....
I spent the day in a classroom and will be back again tomorrow. This is all in prep for my 'life' changing test in June.
To be honest I am not sure I want to be a CMA anymore, but I have a lot invested in it already, both in money and time...
I will continue to push forward. My reward will be my first vacation to see my family in July. I can't wait!

I finally finished this little Moleskine journal featuring my print " Just for you", it has been in the works for months, half done just waiting for me to put it together.
"Just for you" Journal

Hi there,

Candy star pendant
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

How are you?

Life is changing for me in a flash, one minute I am moving the next I am not.
The good news is that I don't have to study for the rest of the month and really hope to do some block printing this week or even perhaps a bit of painting.
I had a dream that I sold a few paintings, I really wish I would find the energy to really work on my so called art career. The current corporate life is slowly making me loose sense of who I am.

For now I am working on new accessories because they are fun and quick to do.

Visit this cute pendant when you have a minute "Candy Star"

It is very gray here, I hope that were you are you have a bit of sunshine.

Birthday Sale!

Hi there,
I am turning 24 on the 24th thus I am having a 24% off Sale to celebrate all week until the big day.
You can find art, notecards, jewelry, lip balm and more in my shop!


The Shop!
sale excludes custom items**

Pocket Mirror Sale!

Hi Everyone,
I am having a great sale in My Shop!
My original art mirrors are all on Sale

Self ImageBeach Sunset
Flower

"Dark Balloons"

Dark Balloons ACEO
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

I have to admit I am a little crazy about woodblock printing. I have had a few failures and made stupid mistakes, like cut an awesome print to ATC size but instead of 2.5 inches I cut it to 2 and it no longer is useable. I am sure I will find a good use for all the cool scaps I am collecting.
Carving is really hard right now because I don't have the right wood and the proper tools, but one day soon.... I have to sell a few prints before I could affort to buy more materials. I guess this is a good time to point out that this ACEO is very available and in my Etsy Shop! ;p
The prints are hard to photograph, which makes me really miss my scanner. Another thing I am saving for, a new all in one printer.
2 More days till the weekend Yey YEY!
...now back to watching my lecture on Managerial Accounting.

more eBay

Last week was the first time I had success on eBay and this week I have two more auctions.
This ACEO and another "Self Image" print

me, a jewelry designer?

Silver and yummy deep redish purple
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

mmmm my favorite colour combo!
I have been playing in the Shop! all week. I have new magnets and a new "Just for You"linoleum print to show.
And of course these lovely earrings, I made a pair for myself and just had to make another and share! They are 2.5 inches long and silver plated.
I am very happy to say that my adventure into eBay land was a success. My ACEO was bid on last minute and my 'Self Image'print has a bid as well!
I think I will add a few more items to eBay soon, but 1st I will wait for one of those fee promotions.
I am packing to go camping up in Algonquin park this weekend. THis is our first get away this whole summer.