Tuesday, September 22, 2009

My daughter's Etsy shop.





My daughter Dana has her own Etsy shop. The chirping began a bit before the summer, she had hand painted a tshirt and decided she wanted to start a tshirt business on Etsy. Summer was coming and I had planned nothing for her. So I figured we would get creative.
She really took to it wonderfully. I thought she would lose interest after a few weeks, but she didn't. She made so many images I still haven't been able to scan them all to the computer. She designed a business card, and I found a special offer for free cards, just paid shipping. She got into our local newspaper, the headline read "Young entrepreneur combines her love of art with desire to help animals".
The reason for this headline is I also figured I could teach her a valuable lesson about giving back, in particular to her community. I told her to pick something she loved, cared about deeply. She said animals and I suggested our local animal shelter. We both agreed it was a great idea. So we decided to give 1 dollar from each sale to the shelter.
I am very happy with the results so far. She's using her talents to create something people like a lot. She's learning she can make money doing something she enjoys and loves doing, drawing. She's told me she wants to be an artist when she grows up. She has new ideas for other products, soon to be revealed for the holidays. She is even doing a show this weekend! She'll have her very own table at our Block Party in Canton, MA on Sept. 26th.
I could not be more proud of what she is acheiving with such a small, cute idea- an idea which began with her watching me work on my own shop.
Like mother like daughter, I guess!
If you would like to see Dana's designs, go to http://www.scribbyworld.etsy.com/

Thursday, September 17, 2009

My new idea/collection is on track!




As I always love to say, I've been chained to my bench lately. Not physically of course, just metaphorically, working away at all my commisions and projects. What I'm also doing is trying to bang out a few new designs.collections for the holiday season, and this is one of them.

I've always loved fluffy fuzzy soft things, whatever they may be, anything in nature that had some sort of tactile feature that made them touchable and fun. Like a rabbit ear- you know, those plants with fuzzy leaves on them. Don't get me wrong actual rabbit ears are cool, but those leaves are SO cool My daughter and I stop and feel everytime we see them.
I also love all the feathers i find on my morning walks. I don't keep them, but i almost always pick them up and feel them. This inspired my new collection. I hought, "how would one actually feel a piece of jewelry?" Now I'm sure many successful artists have pondered this question, and made wonderful pieces, with texture and bumps and whatnot. I wanted fuzzy jewelry that wasn't silly.
So I think I came up with a successful solution and I am very happy with the results. With the thread, I can do any colors that i want, and i hope as I go that they become more elaborate and rich with varying colors, like a Monet, or a Vangoh. I love color too and I've always wanted it to be rich in my work but not with an abundance of beads, and I'm not a very good enameler, so that was out.
:)
C









Thursday, August 20, 2009

A new Idea


I have not been at the computer too much, or the bench recently either for myself, but now I am back on track with my work and working on new ideas. Here is my most recent. I am pretty happy with it and it looks different from my metal work up to now. I have wanted to experiment with different materials, for color, other than stones, beads or enamels. I love the feathery feel of this pendant. I'll be working on more of this line and putting it up soon.
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, June 18, 2009

SCORE

I need to tell you all about a wonderful project I have discovered recently. It is a non profit organization called SCORE, and they help people like us start or build businesses. These are retired, successful business people that want to help you MAKE IT. whether it be a small start up, or you have growing pains, they give you all the information you need to do whats right, and steer clear of common business mistakes. All you have to do is call you local chapter, they are all over the US. Make an appointment and ask all the questions you want. It is totally FREE. Free people! they even gave me Quickbooks! FREE! It is amazing.
Here's a link for you:
Call them- you have NOTHING to lose! they even do free online counseling for any questions you may have.
:)
Good Luck Fellow artists!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I'm at karate today for the first time in a month I think. Jewelry keeps me at home too much sometimes....

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

This is what kept me away.







I've been too busy to blog

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I guess in some ways good, some ways bad. I did a good amount of commisions...I did a couple of shows, made a couple sales on Etsy, thats a good thing.
My studio is a mess. thats a bad thing.
My laundry is sitting on the couch. Hey, at least its CLEAN laundry, and its folded.
There is food in my fridge, and its not old moldy food.
The dishes are clean, thats good too.
Have not sat at the bench yet today. Thats bad.
I did go to SCORE though, they are amazing. Everyone who is self employed needs to look into SCORE.
I'll try to blog more.
:)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

St Patrick's Day Giveaway!

1 bracelet with clover
chicbeadsbygermaine
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5277658
1 pair earrings

Jane Deaux

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5338038

Teresa Smith #1


http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5351339


Teresa Smith #2



Teresa Smith #3





1 Sterling silver ring with Peridot


Sally Jewett-Brocado




1 clover pendant, 18 inch sterling ball chain


by Lori Magno




Small Clover Drops


Cristina Hurley


http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5513114
(4 prizes will be given by me: Ask for Peridot or Aquamarine!))


My Birthday is on Saint Patrick's Day, and I am in the mood to do something fun! So I thought a giveaway would be perfect! The Etsy team, Metalsmiths in Action(MSIA), and I have joined forces to bring you a fun St. Patty's Day giveaway....





Here are the rules:


1. Look in all shops in the MSIA Etsy Team artists featured here. Look for the special icon... You will know it when you see it!


You can find the MSIA etsy stores here:




2. Find ALL 3 St. Patty's Day motif icons, copy and paste the listings(or mention the listing ID numbers) to an email. Email the listings to me, at







3. Your top 3 choices for your prize in your email by artist name, with your best email address to contact you, so I can let you know if you win!





4. Once you have selected your prize, the artist you selected will contact you for your shipping address.




5. Leave a nice comment here!!!!!!!!




All winners will be contacted starting on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day... The contest will continue until all prizes have been won!





GOOD LUCK!!!!!







(O' The Irish!)







:)







Cristina





















Friday, March 6, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Some more photos....It's not easy! But I think I've got the hang of it.











Been a while...




I know, I know, it's been a while since i posted. I am really busy trying hard to reshoot ALL of my pictures of my jewelry. I actually sat down and figured out the best setting to take the pictures on. I had been assuming the pictures would just be good on auto. WRONG. I thought the ISO had to be high. WRONG. The shutter speed did not matter, right? WRONG. I wasted a lot of time taking bad pictures and wondering why my pictures looked sucky.


Oh well. The pictures are way better, here's a few...

Thursday, January 29, 2009

This is the best part...

...of what I do for a living...

If you look closely at her hand, she has her new Butterfly Ring on, this is the same one from my earlier post.

It was a gift for a friend of my mother's

I think she was pleased!

Happy customers = Happy Cristina!

:)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Blog feature!

I just found out I was featured on another blog, a very interesting one. In the true spirit of
Helping those who help me, I wanted to feature it back.
Here you go, enjoy!
A great blog dedicated to Rings!
:)
Cristina

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

My Beautiful chinese lion



We went to Marble House in Newport, RI on our way down to NYC for a short trip. It was built behind Marble House, a famous mansion built by the Vanderbilts in the early 1900s. A very cool place.

Dana loved the lions and decided she wanted to be one for a bit, can you tell which one is her?

:)

C

My newest piece from my newest line


Hello everyone,
Happy New Year!
It's great to be back into my normal routine, especially putting my child on the bus in the morning! I have had not time to post with everyone being home for so long... Now I'm playing major catch up! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
Here's a newbie I wanted to show everyone. I'm enjoying this line and plan on doing more with it. I will try to show one in progress in the next few days.
have a great day!

About Me

My photo
I am currently working independently fulltime at home. I work for other jewelers, and for myself. I also work hard to take good care of my family, young and old. I love to cook, I love to sight see and explore new places and things. I love to try new things.