Design This - Gathering Pin Black and Silver Request

A potential customer found an item in my EDCCollective Etsy shop whose function fit what she wanted but the color was not what she was looking for. She sent me a convo from a listing of my 3 inch pink, silver and floral gathering pins. She asked if I had any options in black and silver. I did have a two inch pair of black and silver gathering pins that was not currently listed, however she needed the three inch pins.

I checked my bead stock to see what I had in black and silver that would fit the three inch pins and sent her a picture of the bead choices. My customer let me know which beads she would be happy with and I came up with a couple of designs based on that input. She picked one of them for her custom order which I made up for her and shipped them out after she purchased her listing. I liked the other design too so I added it to my shop.

Contact me about any of my designs if they are not quite what you are looking for. I'd be happy to let you know if I can create what you have in your mind's eye. This offer obviously goes for my jewelry creations but it extends to my photo art items too. I have many stock photos and might have that flower or critter that you want on a print, note card or bookmark. I enjoy creating custom items, so please get in touch with your custom request.

Baseball Fever

Baseball fever is going around at all levels of the game. It is mid spring and players, umpires and fans from Little League to the big leagues have been out practicing, playing, calling and watching America’s favorite pastime.

My husband started umpiring for Little League when my son started playing in grade school. About a decade later, he is still at it because he has developed a love for umpiring. How can anyone develop a love for anything that is likely to involve jeering from the crowds or in your face confrontations from managers as can be seen caught on tape at many major league games? My husband’s response to that question often includes comments about personal growth and the challenge of staying focused in order to be able to take in all of the elements of play so that each call is accurate and the kids get a chance to play a fair and fun game that unfolds in an orderly fashion. He must be successful at this as he has been honored with an invite to umpire at the Little League regionals in Waco later this summer.

Evidently the answer to why someone would put so much time and effort into volunteer umpiring is of interest to the media as well. Recently, a reporter from Texas Country Reporter contacted another long time umpire, who has been rated as qualified to call at the Little League World Series, to find out what makes umpires tick. The reporter joined the weekly Saturday morning umpire breakfast and then followed my husband and his fellow umpire as they drove off to call games. The resulting story is slated to air on the weekend of May 21. The first photo in this post shows my husband after he dropped off his car after that breakfast to ride with the other umpire to that day’s games.

While I still don’t totally understand why my husband has developed such a strong case of baseball umpiring fever, I try and get out and support him at important games by being there. (Umpires really deserve their own fans too.) When I do, I like to add a bit of baseball bling to my outfit to show my support. I have designed baseball themed gathering pins that I wear as sleeve or bodice pins as seen in the second photo. These may be available through my EDCCollective shop.

No matter what level of baseball you enjoy participating in or supporting, have a great season!

Update: The Texas Country Reporter story actually ran on Sunday, August 7. Also, I posted a follow up about the 2011 Little League Southwest Regional Tournament.

Spring Color Palate

Are you in the mood to break out of the winter drearies? Then put on some spring sunshine. Whether or not you follow the seasonal fashion color picks, you will find inspiration, and hope that spring is coming, in the Pantone Spring 2010 Color Fashion Report.

Splashes of some of these colors have been included in my new spring designs. As the season warms up, my gathering pins will do a beautiful job of pushing up your sleeves. For a bright, eye catching accent choose my OOAK carved rose necklace. Additional splashes of spring sunshine can be found by browsing EDCCollective and EclecticSkeptic. If you have a particular color combination in mind and don’t find it listed, contact EDC about a custom order. I’d love to help you bring a little sunshine to your world.

Etsy Treasuries

Etsy has a button marked Treasury on its home page. Etsy members hand pick items they like and put together treasuries from them. Then they look for an opportunity to snag an opening to be able to list their treasuries. Each treasury only exists on Etsy for a few days.

The treasuries usually have a theme. The items may be made out of similar materials, have similar colors or go with a particular holiday for instance.

I have added screen shots of the two treasuries that I have been included in so far so that if you missed them on Etsy, you can see them here. I am very happy to have my items in the company of the other listings that were included in these treasuries.


A pair of my gathering pins was featured in Carnelian Dreams and a feather wrap pendant was featured in My Feathered Friends. You can click on either photo to see a larger image.


Thanks to GrandmaMarlilyns and RanaMuck for including me in their treasuries.

New Product Line - "No-Hole" Gathering Pins

Everyone loves finding and owning the latest thing. We have discovered and are offering a new fashion accessory. Our new product line takes the old concept of a pin and puts a new spin on it.

Accessorize your outfits with our newest offering,
 “No-Hole” Gathering Pins.



These lovely pins clasp your fabric instead of poking holes like a standard pin. They work by gathering up the fabric and stay in place by holding it in the tension of the clasp. They can be used so many different ways. See some of them in the photos above and read the suggestions below. I’m sure after you try them you will find even more uses for these delightful decorative accessories.



Use them as sleeve pins, an attractive alternative to rolling or pushing up your sleeves, long or short.





Use them as bodice pins to make your outfit more alluring.



Use them as scarf pins.

Size recommendations:


The small, 2 inch, gathering pins work well with lighter weight fabrics and short sleeves.


The regular, 3 inch, gathering pins also work on heavier materials, including sweaters, and instances where a lot of material is to be gathered, such as layered blouses and tees.




How to use them:
 Open the pin and slide the head of the pin under the material to be gathered, leaving the beaded side on top. After you have gathered (or shirred) your outfit to the desired look, close the clasp around the fabric to hold it in place without piercing your fabric.



Beautifully accessorized with No-Holes!