Meet the Artist of the Month

I would like to introduce you to a very special artist and friend of mine. Her name is Jill Milan and her jewelry is just fantastic. I myself have yet to reach the level of expertise that Jill has when she creates a piece. Jill is currently retired and lived in Marietta, Georgia with her husband.

To quote Jill she says " A little bit of everything that might just catch your eye". Her jewelry is made as "eclectic jewelry styles ", styles that I find breathtaking and not at all eclectic. A lot of her work is done in copper and gold filled wire, beads and lots of wire wrapping and coils.

Jill is an active member of the eSmarts team (www.eSMArts@yahoo.com). This is where I first met Jill, and I have been following her blog where she offers insight to so many different ideas and topics. You can find Jill's blog at http://jewelryelegancebyjill.blogspot.com/

A wonderful etsy store just chocked full of goodies awaits you and has so much "eye candy" that you will be cleaning your keyboard off for weeks to come! Check her store at Jewelry elegance by Jill http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5292047. You will NOT be sorry you looked. You can also find Jewelery Elegance by Jill on 1000 Markets http://www.1000markets.com/users/1105/.

A very special lady and a good friend, I am so glad that I have the pleasure of knowing Jill from Jewelry elegance by Jill. Be sure to check her out.

I am so glad that I have had this opportunity to take a few minutes for you to get to know this wonderful artist. Please check her blog for more insight on this Jill Milan.

Summers End

Even though summer isn't officially over until September 21st, its sad to see the wonderful season come to an end. In Minnesota the season is very short, and before we know it the snow will be here. I am certain though we will have plenty of more warm days and then of course there is Indian Summer too.

I have been busy making jewelry for my next show next weekend. Trying to build a supply up so I don't have to be frantic before the next show comes along and I can make more beads. I torched for four hours today and it flew by so quick. would have torched longer but my back and neck started bothering me.

I have been trying to absorb as much information as I can from my wonderful Etsy eSMARts team and all the wonderful information that is posted on the site. I have been making up sets of ear rings from leftover beads and attached them to my business card. I now carry them in my purse in a small pouch, and have started handing them out to people who I see regularly as a means (I hope) of drumming up business for me and my website (etsy too).

We have some exciting things coming up in our team, Etsy is putting on a virtual Trunk Show. sounds like it might be fun, and a chance to sell live to customers. that part is a little scary to me, but help has been offered, so we shall see how it all will go.

Also trying to learn about semi precious stones, and have excellent guidance from Lois (realtychick), check her website out at http://www.abeadedaffair.etsy.com. she is such a great help to me, and is really guiding me in a number of ways. We placed and order together and I am so excited I can't wait till it comes. It's a surprise birthday present for someone, which I will tell about and show pictures after her birthday (she reads my blog).

So I think I have updated you on mostly everything, and I will try not to go so long between blog posts i promise.

Till next time~
Wilma
www.wilmas-whimseys.com
www.whimsey.etsy.com
www.wilmaswhimseys.blogspot.com/

Well I Finally Did It

Thank you so much Hilde. I was able to follow some of the directions and now have a blog roll. A couple of more things I would like to add and change around, but will save that for another "lazy day" for me. Besides this old lady needs help. I want to do a feature on my shop, but can't remember how to add pictures to my blog sigh.....

Had a wonderful day yesterday, did a craft show with another of the MN Street Team I belong to.
Rachel Wright of capturedtimebooks.etsy.com did the show with me as my original partner backed out. Oh it was so hot, and we were right in the sun. I got really queasy after a while and had to go and find a shade spot under the tree. I really had a great time and got to know Rachel real well, but will be hesitant about doing an outside craft show again unless I have a tent with some walls to block the sun. Maybe if I can start selling something on etsy I can manage to buy one! Uh that's a hint fellow bloggers LOL just kidding. I didn't put up any of my beads, just my jewelry and my orphans. Sold quite a few orphans, so will be filling the orphan bucket also
Rachel sells Custom made scrapbooks. Her work is simply beautiful. she also knows how to talk to the customer and "sell her self" Something I know I need to learn. As I said I really enjoyed having Rachel as my partner and would love to do more shows with her.

Well I am off to list some beads on etsy and if I have time, set up a new etsy store for my jewelry. Have a great week and see you next blog!

Wilma

Inspiration-Where does it come from?

Not being able to do the thing I love the most has inspired me to start a journal so that I have ideas of different beads I want to make. Most of my inspiration comes from a stroll through the garden. Such lovely flowers and different colors and shapes, oh so many ideas.
We have had some cool days with the wind blowing and I have created a cross ventilation and was able to make a couple of sets of beads. Some of them inspired from my journal. I hope to have them up in my etsy shop very soon. Here is the link to my etsy shop-www.whimsey.etsy.com and don't forget to check out my website www.wilmas-whimseys.com
I have been busy making jewelry and trying to get it photoed and on my website, and make stock for my up coming shows. Craft Shows are fun to do and you meet some really great people there to.
So back to the topic of my blog, "inspiration" Where do you find inspiration? Well as I said a stroll in the garden, and another favorite place is Target. Just strolling the clothes area and the Linens area, so many great colors and patterns. actually you can find inspiration everywhere you go, and sometimes you don't even have to look for it,its just right there.
I have joined a wonderful street team, eSMArts. I have met so many wonderful people and gained so much knowledge too. If you get a chance read the eSMArts blog at www.esmarts.blogspot.com. You will be introduced to some very talented artists , and who knows you might just find the one thing you really need!
Well that's all I have for today, will be back soon with more of an update. Till then enjoy the summer.

Wilma

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe how long its been since I last posted. In the time passed, I have done a craft show, buried my favorite Aunt, and had a house fire that has caused considerable damage.

Its that time of year when everyone is busy with craft shows, garden work, weddings, bar-b-ques, and just having fun. I have a few more craft shows lined up for this summer, and a wedding in June so things will be busy here.

The weather can't make up its mind if its wants to be spring or fall. One day its 82 and the next day its in the low 60's. How are my beautiful plants that I planted going to grow? They will be so confused and want to hide their heads in the dirt. Well I know that in a couple of days or weeks I will be complaining that its "so hot". a hot weather person I am not, and a cold weather person I am not. there is no happy medium for me.

So I had better go and get busy making some more beads so that I can make some jewelry to post on my website. Please have a look if you have a chance to see what I have on my website. Its www.wilmas-whimseys.com. I also make up special orders if you have a wedding coming up and need to have gifts for your attendants, or for any special occasion, just let me know I am happy to do it for you.

So till next time, which I hope will be a lot sooner, enjoy the beautiful weather.

Wilma
www.wilmas-whimseys.com
http://whimsey.etsy.com

Hooray we have Spring!!!!!

Time sure does fly by when you are working and creating with your craft (beads and jewelry). I have been busy with all, especially since I have my first craft show of the year coming up in two weeks at the Crystal Gallery Mall. Please if you get a chance be sure to stop and say hello.
Well as I said I have been busy with my crafts, and had to go to the bank which is located over near Ridgedale. While in the area I decided to go to Veberod Gem gallery as I needed a few supplies. Lets just say that was the wrong thing to do! I met the wonderful Ladies that run the place and talked about anything and everything for about two hours. Well when you are in that type of store, you can't help but chat things up a bit. Oh and now I have another new craft I would like to learn, its lapidary!!!! Yup I fell in love with the cabs and stones and so want to learn how to do that, and a few other things too....Boy my plate will be full
Currently i am working on Viking Knit and making a necklace and earrings. My beads fit on them great, so will be thinking about different combinations to make up. Also have been doing chain malle which I love too. I add my beads to the bracelets and earringsI have been making. Its so nice to see that Spring has finally made it here. While out getting the mail the other day I noticed I have some bulbs popping up!!! They need to be transplanted to the back garden though as they don't receive enough sunlight under the big tree. Have to get my son to dig them for me to transplant them. I am a little gun shy of putting things in the back garden as last year and the year before we were bothered by the "pocket gopher". He did a number on my back yard, and ate all my plants too. I am so glad he loved my Iris's that took 3 years to finally bloom. I was so happy to see them finally blooming and they were so very beautiful too. I got them from a co-worker, I traded some beads for some Iris bulbs. So sad, and now they are all gone.
Guess to be on the safe side I will just scatter some seeds and hope for the best. The only perennials that mr. pocket gopher didn't touch are my climbing rose bush and my regular rose bush. Everything else he ate GRRRR. You would think having a daughter working in a Nursery that I would have flowers and trees all over my yard. She is too busy to take time to send Mom some plants.
Well I need to get back to working on my jewelry as I will be a busy one this weekend I received two special orders for bead sets that I need to create and make. Hope you all have a wonderful week and until the next time......

Wilma
www.wilmas-whimseys.com
http://whimsey.etsy.com