BIG NEWS...my blog is moving!

Why hello there!

Bet you thought I wasn't around anymore, eh?

Well I am, and I'm here to tell you good news!

I have a brand new website!

Up until now, my domain name just redirected you to my Blogger site but now, my domain Second Surf is actually a website! Pretty cool, eh? What I'm most proud of is that I've done it all by myself! ~well, mostly....with a lot of help from my amazingly talented, patient and handsome technology director ;)love you Mr. Mike!

Here's a little sneak peek!

What this means for you:

*If you currently subscribe and follow me on google, blogger, or another feed burner, you'll need to update your reader. all you have to do is enter http://secondsurf.com into the little do-hicky in your reader and that should do it!

I won't be posting anymore on my blogger and I've moved ALL of my posts & comments over to the new site! YAY!

It is still a work in progress and I'll be adding more functionality over the next few weeks but I was too excited to hold back anymore! There is also a shopping cart on over there and that's fully functional, although a little empty, but I hope to remedy that very very soon!

FREE SHIPPING

Hey y'all! I'm just stopping in to let you know there is FREE SHIPPING all this week in the shop, through next Sunday evening. I'm prepping for Indie Craft Parade in a little over the month, plus a visit home to see the family and I want to clear out some of the old inventory and raise a little more fundage for my trip.

Also, the bead grabs that are in the shop are all that I'll be selling for now. There are 3 left. Thanks to all of you who have purchased them! It really helps clean up my bead box and you get to score some pretty rad stuff for cheapy-cheap.

Also, I will uploading new beads and some finished pieces all this week to the shop. There will be new additions to the Breeze and Whisper Collections. The Breeze beads will go up first with the Whisper beads to follow later on in the week. I'll keep you posted.

Convoluted?

So, I've been trying to come up with a couple of different craft show setups. My idea is to streamline things into 2 or 3 different setups for different types of shows. One would be a large setup suitable for a big tent show or trade show with lots of props and tables, etc. More often though, I get the opportunity to do a small table setup at a local market or trunk show type of setting where I will be offering just a sample of all my products. Basically, all of these things need to fit in my (compact) car and be set up pretty quickly without too much flash. I need to redo a larger banner for the big type shows but I wanted something smaller, other than a banner attached to a table cloth (which is usually overlooked) for the market type setting. So, I came up with this frame, which I can just plop on the table.

Now, this probably flies in the face of all good marketing but hear me out. The criticism of it could probably be that it should show my work. Be some type of glossy printout, all matching my logo, etc. HOWEVER, I've decided to do things a little differently.

When people look at my work, I want them to notice 3 things:

* the attention to detail
* that each piece is one of a kind, and made by hand
* the narrative, almost collage-like layering, in the process and color.

I arrived at making my pieces because I am a painter at heart and by training. And the process to my beadmaking is very similar.

So I decided to hand paint and collage a sign, that hints at my jewelry through color, process, and method.

I made it colorful so it matches my jewelry but stands out from my neutral setup. The frame is a take off of a frame tutorial by my friend, Katie Runnels, and then I did a small collage painting to fit inside with my shop name and what I do.

I'm really quite taken with it as a temporary solution, for now. What do y'all think???

Custom Work

Custom Necklace designed around my Connected Pendant


Bracelet with Custom Message based on my Dandelion Wine Bracelet

Just popping in to show you some fun custom work I've completed recently. I'm always happy to work with you on a custom piece. Whether it's just a pendant or bead you're in love with and want a piece designed around it or you want a special customization stamped for yourself or someone you love!

Feel free to email me (find my address at the bottom of the page) or contact me through my etsy shop.

Production Mode......

Okay....So this is what it looks like in full production swing here....Making beads until my wrists and fingers are sore....and making necklaces and bracelets in between baking and drying and polishing....really to give my hands and wrists a rest.

I've been bad about updating the Etsy shop lately...but an update is coming as soon as I get some good light for photos....hopefully tomorrow...and as soon as my inventory is updated then the new designs start! Wheeee....I have some fun ideas coming soon. so snap up the designs that are in the shop now because many, if not all, will be discontinued soon! All of the birds, save owls, will be discontinued. So snap up your flighty friends while they are available.

Not all of the beads above will end up in the shop....so if you see something you like...be sure to email me or convo me on etsy about it because a lot of these beads are destined for necklaces or local shops. :)

I've been working on this forlorn and f'ugly bust that I bought for a song at Ross or TJMaxx or one of those....She originally had a horrible wire cage bust. I've been working on updating her into shabby fab. It's been a process, fer reals.....No one else except for me would have spent this much time on a chintzy off price lady, but she is about to look spectacular as a display.

First, I covered her with a coat of Modge Podge and tissue paper to form a base. Then with a coat of modeling paste to cover the texture of the wire cage so it wouldn't show through, now I've been slowly collaging her....more to come.

If you happen to be in Texas.....

the lovely Haberdashery Boutique
My Avocado Mezza Luna Necklace displayed with some lovely Ronen Chen pieces
My work in the jewelry case
Check out some of my pieces are currently for sale at Haberdashery Boutique, a vintage modern boutique located in Fredericksburg, Texas. I love what Jill, the proprietor, of Haberdashery Boutique has to say about her style and shop aesthetic,

"Growing up, I never liked to shop because I was a curvy girl and never found things that fit properly. So, after many years of creating my own look with vintage found pieces, handmade creations, and storebought finds, I had this eclectic artsy look. I never really wanted to be on trend, I wanted to be dressed different with a style all my own...while still being fashionable, feminine, and classic."

Amen, Jill! I love the photos of her shop and desparately wish I had this type of store locally!

You can find Haberdashery Boutique here:
203 E.Main St.
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(P)830-990-2462

SALES, new stuff, and transitioning....

Hello!

I thought my shop was pretty well depleted after the holidays until I went to mark down some things for a sale, and WOW, there is lots more than I thought left over...

I'm working on putting up new items in my shop, but I'm doing so on a limited basis until I can clear out some of the old stock. Please visit my shop sale section, where you will find lots of necklaces and earrings marked anywhere from 20% off to up to 70% off!

I've also listed some new bird and owl beads, in new colors and styles, as well as some new rings in sterling silver.

If you see something you're in love with and have a reasonable offer, please send me a convo on Etsy or send an email to info[at!]secondsurf[dot!]com and make an offer. This applies to already made jewelry, not to beads or pendants.

Ta Da!

Alright, I know the suspense has been killing you. You want to see the craft show display, right?? Well, I'm afraid the build up was a lot bigger than the actual finale. As I prepared, I decided to use the K.I.S.S. method until I figured out what worked and what didn't in reality. And it looked pretty good! But next time, it will look even better. :) I'll be excited to see the transformation. I need to find a lot more fixtures and invest in another table or two. Since I sell such a variety of things, I really want it to have it's own boutique feel. Everything on one table just was sort of a jumble. I separated it into halves, so it wasn't too confusing. When I set up at home, I had it all arranged together, but it didn't feel right.

After all that, I almost forgot to take pictures, so parts look a little sparse, after some brisk sales. :)

Second Saturday Art & Antique Market

Awesome Papercuts by Hannah Barnhardt, available in her etsy shop here

Work by Lauren Bilyeu
Gorgeous paintings by Amy Leigh Rochester
Leather Cuffs made with vintage and antique buttons by Heather Waltonand her etsy shop here
colorful basket of stitched birds by Angela Statzer of Lilly Jane Designs


Well kiddos, the market came and went, all the fuss of getting prepared was rewarded! I'll post my own photos in a bit but I wanted to take a few minutes and post some of the beautiful work of some of the artists there.

A great big thanks to Heather Walton, who organized the show,and Butter Bean Village Market owner, Joni Wellman for being such wonderful hostesses! They also provided some delicious snacks to munch on from the shop! Heather has also started a blog about the monthly market which will be held on the Second Saturday of each month through the fall. The next market will be held August 8th.

for the love of wine....

With the approaching holiday weekend and wedding season in full swing, I was thinking of a traditional twist on giving the same old bottle of vino. Why not gift a little something extra that will remind them of you long after that bottle is gone?

Clockwise from left:
Wine Bottle Stoppers, variety of colors by janebesspottery $12
Knobby Starfish Wine Stopper by beachcottagelane $25
Captured Pink Ivory Wine Stopper by moonskywoodworks $18
Recycled Bottle Stemless Wine Glasses by ReusefulObjects $40

shop update!

Although I have been much engaged with some of Mr. Mike's family in town for his Mom's 70th birthday and family reunion, plus preparing for an upcoming art market, I managed to update my 2ndsurf shop and my floridity shop this week. Please take a browse...

the beginning....

Am very excited about what's coming up in the next couple weeks! I will be participating in a art and antique market on the Second Saturday in July. More details to come.... This entailed me going out this weekend and purchasing my first big white craft tent. Something I've been putting off for awhile. Since that big old tent required a generous expenditure of my meager funds, I thought it would be fun to construct all of my display fixtures from materials I already have....something that is totally feasible if I get off my rump and apply myself. So, this is the beginning of my display fixtures....a covering for the table.

I have a GIANT role of canvas that I think I've had since I graduated from SCAD. So, I decided I would paint a table covering that would resemble a very large, more subtle version of one of my paintings. This is the beginning of that and will look very different when its done, but I was enjoying it fluttering on the line, drying, and thought I would share a couple photos.....

shop update!

Just a little note to say I've updated my etsy shop with some cute new affordable tiny paintings, all priced $20 and under! Check them out here.

Also, I'm really excited about some new jewelry pieces I'm working on for my jewelry line, hopefully pics of those will be up tomorrow!

lucky weekend

having a lovely lucky weekend here. thought i would share some photos. bought this darling dress at Target, wish i looked as cute as the model. it is perfect for the summer heat. light and cool and has pockets! spent the morning at the farmer's market. spent the afternoon packaging some tiny pendant beads for a goody bag promotion at the Handmade Brigade in Leguna Niguel, CA at the end of June.

going to watch bluegrass tonight at the truckstop.

hope you have an equally lucky weekend! xoxo.

a few of my favorites this morning...

Etsy Buy Handmade 2ndsurf

love freely.....

true love ornament
love freely ornament
Give away your love, freely and without expectation. Give it away, and soon your life will be filled with love, and you will have set others on the path of love and peace.
-- John Robbins (b. 1914)


New valentine ornaments are up in my etsy shop inspired by not only the one you call your sweetheart but also humanity in general

washed out.....

what a wet week!!!! I've been toiling with tropical storm fay all week, both in the retail world and at home. it literally did not stop raining for 3 days straight. I was worried I was going to have to start fashioning some sort of ark!We received a record 23.38" of rain in Cape Canaveral in less than 48 hours.AMAZING.

what is more amazing- the people that will come out in a torrential downpour to shop. as a society, it is sort of sad that we can't stay at home for 24 hours and entertain ourselves. people were driving through flooded streets and 45 degree blowing wind and rain to buy food. not necessitative food either, just whatever....anywhoo...i guess these are the same people who get angry that nothing is open on Christmas.