So long, farewell……

This will be my last post here at created by Kylie. I have decided to make a fresh start over at Chasing Purple Dreams. Thanks for following along with me as I began my blogging journey; I have really appreciated all of the support and every one of the fantastic comments I have received here. I do hope you will drop by Chasing Purple Dreams and follow along with me as I enter this exciting new phase.

Grand opening????

Sorry I have been neglecting this little space. I have been madly working on my Etsy preparations. I have put up my first few listings and I’m feeling very nervous about my overall presentation. Is the listing text too “wanky”? It seems from reading other listings that it sort of needs to be. Are the photos good enough?? Will anyone look???
The writing the listing process is slow for me so I shall just keep adding bits and pieces all the time. I have heard this is a good idea anyway to keep getting your name up on the just listed page. I read somewhere about an Aussie staying up until the middle of the night to post listings, because that’s when all of the Americans are shopping? Anyone tried this? Is it worth it? I haven’t been sleeping much lately anyway so I could probably pull it off!! Please pop by if you have a moment and tell me what you think.

On top of all the angst this is causing me I am not sure what to do with merging the two blogs. I don’t know if I shall just start fresh at Chasing Purple Dreams or should I move all of my archives over? I am leaning towards just staring fresh, but leaving the last post here directing over to Chasing Purple Dreams and having a link back to here from the new blog if anyone is interested to see how I started out on this blogging adventure. Any thoughts or tips?

Taking a deep breath….

My head has been buzzing with all that I have going on lately. I am excited to be embarking on an Etsy adventure and I just can’t get enough of melting and belting copper into little trinkets in the studio. I am also holding plans in my head for a major studio declutter and revamp. All of this has left me struggling to fall asleep or waking soon after I fall asleep and unable to get back to sleep.

A couple of nights ago I decided to get proactive and head back to the Meditation Oasis website and see if a guided meditation would help. I haven’t visited the site for a couple of years (I put on a meditation during early labour and I hadn’t been able to go back!). I was thrilled to find they have added a host of new guided meditations to their free podcast list.

I chose the “Enhance Your Creativity” meditation (I know I probably should have chosen something that sounded more relaxing, but how could I resist that title??). It was just what I needed, as soon as I heard Mary’s voice I started breathing deeper and relaxing. I have been sleeping better the last couple of days and I love the new designs I have come up with lately, so perhaps it is helping on the creativity front too.

If you need a little break or some inspiration why not pop over and give it a go yourself? I am going to try the "Resting in The Source” podcast next.

I’ve put up a header over at my new Chasing Purple Dreams blog, please pop over for a sneak peek and tell me what you think of it. I shall be moving over there permanently in the next few days (just as soon as I figure out how to do that!!!!).

The decision is final….

Chasing Purple Dreams is born. I am setting up an Etsy store and a Chasing Purple Dreams blog. I’ll move over to the new blog as soon as I get a banner etc sorted out. I am excited and a little overwhelmed by all that is on my “to do” list to get the store and new blog sorted at the moment, but in a good way. The first point on my “to do” list is “remember this won’t all happen overnight”!

Here are a few shots of the paintings that I delivered to Jet on the weekend, the photos of the paintings aren’t the best but it gives you a peek inside Tania’s lovely shop.

I’m happy to report that of this “work” hasn’t kept me out of the studio, I have been using more of Tania’s beautiful handmade lampwork beads and I have made my first piece in silver, also using her beads. See the little melted balls on the ends of the copper and silver? This is the technique I was so excited to master. I am in love with them and all of the design possibilities they will open up for me.
I’m going to head back into the studio now, if I cross my fingers I may get a bit more done before the Little Guy wakes up.

I think I’ve found a name!

It’s available on Etsy and BlogSpot. I really like it, Curly Guy likes it, it makes me happy to think about it, it’s positive and easy to spell and hopefully catchy. Ready? Drumroll……….

"Chasing Purple Dreams"

What do you think?

I’m on a roll in the studio, I bought some silver that I am itching to make something out of, I mastered a technique I have wanted to be able to do for ages and I delivered some paintings to Jet this morning. So busy, busy, busy.   I shall be back with piccies, but I have a minute to sneak into the studio, so see you soon.

More trinkets to share….

This “Black Beauty” trinket has some special handmade lampwork beads created by the very talented Tania from Jet beads. These little guys were orphans but I think they will keep each other company in this stylish asymmetrical pendant. I have two more of her little pink orphans in my stash waiting for inspiration to strike!

“Two Hearts” was only completed yesterday and I had to wear it out today. On it’s first outing I took an order for one and I had to rush home and make it straight away! It is now snuggled in it’s little organza bag awaiting delivery. I think I will make another to take to Handmade Heaven for my next restock.

“Triad” is another I couldn’t resist wearing and keeping for myself, it has also had lots of positive comments so I will make some similar pieces soon.

I really like these “Squares in Pink” as well, but so far I have resisted the urge to wear them out! So they are ready to head of to Handmade Heaven as soon as they reopen.

My “insperimentation” with the ammonia patina is continuing, I nearly pulled the plug on it today, but after a close inspection I have decided to let it go a little longer. I am just so keen to have the pendant ready to wear, but I shall have to be patient!

The gremlins have been removed from the system!

Sorry to anyone who went to comment on my last post and found themselves with out a soapbox to stand on. Somehow I had (or perhaps Little Guy helped me???) ticked a box that I didn’t know existed and not allowed comments.
I have learned a few things about blogger in the last couple of days; thanks go out to Ms Curly Pops for yesterday’s tuition and a great big thanks to Kelly for directing me to today’s glitch.
If you want to help out by adding your two cents worth to my name dilemma feel free to comment either here or on the original post. I’m still not sold on any of the names I have come up with, but I think I have a photo background colour scheme sorted.

What’s in a name?

I’m still struggling with a name for an Etsy store. It’s much harder than I thought it would be, whenever I have great idea I do a search and someone has beaten me to it!

I loved “Flotsam & Jetsam”, "My Own Two Hands”, “Studio 9” and “Whatever Takes Your Fancy” but they are all taken, taken, taken! It’s especially frustrating when the name is taken by a shop that has no listings, no banner and no sales. What’s going on there? Are people just hogging names?

One that isn’t taken that I like is “Inspired Emporium” it’s also available in blogger, so I could change my name here too. Curly Guy is not too keen on it, he says he likes it but doesn’t love it. What do you guys think?

Another option is “Twinkle High” it’s Little Guys own special title for his favorite song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.

Once the name is chosen there is still the issue of colour schemes, banners, working out postage charges and writing up all of the listings. Busy times ahead…….

I’m ready to take the plunge, but I have a dilemma….

I’m going to dip my toe in the water over at Etsy and see what happens. I want to start moving some of the paintings that are filling up my house (especially the ones in the studio) and it would also be an outlet for my jewellery and what ever other creative endeavours my short attention span has me indulging in next.

The dilemma is I need a shop name, now the logical thought would be – go with createdbyKylie, the problem is I’m not really such a big fan of the name. I didn’t spend much time thinking about it, I was just too keen to get going with this blog. AND I did a search with in sellers on Etsy for names starting with createdby and there are 104 matches so it’s not the most unique idea!!

It seems a brain storming session is on the cards for me in the next few days, if you have any ideas you would like to throw in the hat, please feel free to leave me a comment. If I love your idea and use it I am sure I could find a little pressie to send your way.

Let the year of insperimentation begin!

Did you see Nic’s fabulous post this morning? I am feeling so inspired since reading it, I intend to make her new word “insperiment” my word of the year. I think experimenting to promote inspiration is just what I need to keep my work moving and evolving.

I have inscribed insperiment onto a copper pendent and thought it fitting to use this piece for my next patina experiment.

I have popped the “Insperiment Pendent” in a jar and suspended it above a little ammonia and I have my fingers crossed a lovely blue coloured patina will develop over the next few days.  I shall keep you post as to how it turns out. Thanks again Nic for the inspiration.

Eggs and peas anyone??

Do you remember this new “Pea Pod” trinket from the other day? It has had a little make over in the great egg patina experiment.

Just placing a hard boiled egg in a glass jar with the copper piece overnight produced this charming aged appearance. The gasses released from the egg yolk cause the reaction, then a little polish with some 0000 steel wool in places gave it some highlights. Simple and stunning, I am really happy with how it turned out.

I am right back in the swing of things and itching to spend as much time as possible in the studio. The new “Dangle” trinkets I am working on are really striking; I shall share some of them soon.

Stay tuned for more copper patina experiments as well and a post on just how easy it is to clean copper if you prefer it bright and shiny.