Diary 2011 Project

For the second year in a row, I have participated in the Diary Project. This is the Diary Project’s fourth year. The layout has changed a bit this year, however it is still a great solution for people that like to keep a daily diary or journal.

Artists and craftsmen are asked to submit artwork for a given day of the year. The artist is allowed to include what they do and a link to their work. This information, as well as the date, is translated into English, French and Spanish. Space is incorporated into the page design for your diary or journal entry.

You can see a preview of my artwork for Thursday, July 14, 2011 at the left. This photographic art design is of my gazelle earring model, modeling a pair of flying pig earrings. Click on the gazelle for a larger view. Additional flying pig items can be found in my shop EclecticSkeptic.

You can purchase a copy of the this year’s artistically designed diary, a CD of the diary or a download of the diary. For ordering information, please click on the Diary 2011 button at the right.

EDCCollective begins collaboration with RhymesAndReason

Sometimes two very different things can be combined for a more pleasing whole than either of the parts could be on their own. Some examples that come to mind are bread and butter, suit and tie, Simon and Garfunkel. The combination that is the basis of EDC’s new collaboration is poetry and illustrations. Now don’t get me wrong, EDCCollective’s photographic art is great as home décor and on note cards and bookmarks, while RhymesAndReason’s poems capture thoughts and feelings that you might find difficulty finding the words for. However, the combination of a poem with a complementary illustration provides more interest and impact than either on its own.

How does this work? The poet sends me a poem, I brainstorm images that I think enhance the poem and work from my stock photos or take some new shots to work with to come up with the final illustrations. I then artistically arrange the poem on the illustration and send the finished file to the poet.

You can find the products of this collaboration in RhymesAndReason’s Etsy Shop. Most of her current listings are geared towards giving as a gift to a special friend or dear family member, many of which can be personalized. Other poems may be something that you wish to purchase for yourself and hang in your home. Also, the current listings are for a pdf of the poem that you can print out as an 8 x 10 on your choice of paper. If you would rather have a printed copy mailed to you, please contact EDCCollective or RhymesAndReason, as we have plans to make that happen as well. I'm sure there will be many more poems to come as time goes on, so please bookmark this neat new Etsy store, RhymesAndReason, for your future illustrated poetry needs.

Design This – Turquoise Crystal Necklace

Not all of my custom orders come from Etsy alchemy requests. Earlier this year, a friend asked me to show her some of my completed designs and materials in colors that she liked to wear. We sat down with what I brought and she picked out a couple of things and made a wish list of others that she wanted to add to her wardrobe over time. This post is about a jewelry set that I designed around a strand of turquoise crystal beads that she particularly liked.

Initially, my goal was to just create a necklace design using the strand of crystal beads. The length necklace that my friend wanted was longer than the strand of beads, so I needed to incorporate some spacers or other complementary beads into the design. I had other beads in the same color as well as a variety of faceted glass and crystal beads that I thought would help showcase the large turquoise crystal beads. I strung up a variety of beads in different patterns to see what my friend liked the best.

She liked the small, faceted, AB coated Czech glass spacer beads the best. They did a good job of adding length, without taking away from the turquoise beads that she liked so much. We also discussed the pattern of spacers and large beads in the necklace. To add more emphasis to the turquoise beads, the final design was to include several of these beads grouped together in the front of the necklace without spacers.

There was a pleasant surprise when I laid out this pattern to the correct length. There were four extra large turquoise crystal beads. I sent a photo of the necklace and a suggestion for a pair of matching earrings before I beaded anything up. My friend was thrilled with being able to have matching earrings, so the custom necklace became a custom necklace and earring set.

If you have a particular color or style that you would like incorporated into a custom piece of jewelry, I’d love to hear from you and see if I have the materials to turn your vision into reality. You can contact me through my Etsy shops, EDCCollective or EclecticSkeptic, or send me an e-mail.

EclecticSkeptic adds Math and Science Geek Themed Items

In an effort to blend my love for math and science with my love for creating things, I have put on my thinking cap to come up with items for the math and science geek. My goal is to create items that not only are attractive, but that will be appreciated on a deeper level by someone with the appropriate math or science background. EclecticSkeptic has a brand new section, geekery, for these items, in addition to its broad assortment of flying pig (aka pigasus) items. At this time this new section is stocked with two of my new designs.

If you or someone you know is a math geek, the fibonacci necklace is a great accessory. I have gotten several compliments when I wear mine, just because it is a colorful and pretty piece of jewelry. The people that I know with a strong math background also appreciate what it represents. This necklace is available in silver plated chain and findings as well as the gold plated seen here. You can also arrange to have me customize the colors that represent the first five numbers of the fibonacci sequence for you.

Perhaps you are more of the science type. Then the hydrogen atom earrings would be perfect for you or for any female science geek on your list. (I'm working on ideas for the math or science guy geeks too, so stay tuned.) The electron is represented by a movable fluted gunmental plated bead. Other colors of faceted glass beads can be used to represent the proton of the hydrogen atom. Please contact me about the availability of the customizations that you are interested in.

Let EclecticSkeptic help you display your love of math and/or science with style.

Thanks for the Treasuries - August 2010

Seven different Etsy shops featured at least one of my items in a treasury in August. Ten different August treasuries included one of my items. You can see a collage below of my items from EDCCollective and EclecticSkeptic that were featured during August. (Click on the collage to see a larger view.)


I really appreciate being featured by the treasury makers. To thank them, I have listed below (in alphabetical order) links to the 7 different shops that featured at least one of my items, as well as an item from their shop that I like.

Enjoy window shopping and I encourage you to click on the shop links of anything that pleases your eye.


bomobob
Unique and original fine art photography is featured as prints, in calendars and on lockets in this shop.

ClassyAndSassyCharms
This shop carries two sides soldered glass pendants that feature a variety of images and text.




CorkyCrafts
Wine-related products make the perfect gifts! If you are a wine connoisseur who happens to appreciate hand made items, look no further.

HandPaintedPetals
Hand painted keepsakes include jewelry and memory boxes, glassware, votive candle holders and more can be found here.

MarasFabric
Look no further than this shop for a great selection of pre-cut quilt squares and lace. A few handmade fabric items such as coasters can be found as well.

Maulani
Fun and bright needle felted, fabric rose and charm necklaces are sold here.

SoyComfort
Shop for a variety of shapes and fragrances of hand poured soy candles at this shop.