I decided to try out a couple of new shows this year. Just something to broaden my horizons. There is a convention coming up in July called the Dark History and Horror convention in Champaign, IL. They needed vendors and I thought it could be a great opportunity and fun to do!

I am planning to have a bigger stock in all of my dragon eye necklaces as well as my steampunk items. Ya know, my off the wall stuff.

This is a questionnaire that my business partner and I came up with. Answers to these questions would be extremely helpful to us.  If you choose to answer, please copy and paste this to an email , answer the questions and I will send you a coupon for $5.oo off a future purchase!

Raeven Design Studios –

A new venture by Julie B. of Ravenwing Creations and Rabecca M.

Feedback needed !!!! We are starting a joint fashion/jewelry line together and need

your help!

The following questions will aid us in the development of our brand. Every COMPLETED ( 1 per person)

questionnaire will earn the person a FREE PAIR OF EARRINGS or a $5.00 coupon towards the purchase of a

Ravenwing Creations jewelry item. Thank you for your help!

1. Please tell me about a time when you were shopping for a new outfit or accessory for an event. What was the event? What was the image you were trying to convey? What issues did you come across in your search for the perfect item?

2. If you had difficulty finding the right item, how did you remedy the situation? (i.e. try a new store, if so how many? Did you try to make something yourself or have someone make it fr you?

3. What guided your decision to shop at a particular store? (i.e. word of mouth, brand name, service, variety of product, visual displays, their success in helping you in the past? )

3. What kind of environment or service are you looking for when you shop? How does it affect you making a purchase and subsequently returning to that seller?

5. What is your primary goal when shopping for a new outfit? Is it for fun, for an event/ or need based or for others?

6. Are you looking for an item that is unique and will help you stand out in the crowd or are you looking for something functional and for more everyday usage?

7. Would you prefer custom made clothing with less variety or store bought with less variety?

8. When purchasing jewelry or accessories, what factors do you consider? (circle all that apply)_____Cost _____Color _____Construction ____Durability _____Fit _____StylePlease circle your #1 consideration for purchase of jewelry or accessories

Here is the next class I am teaching at the Kountry Nook!  Follow their Facebook page for updates on all of the classes and events at the Nook!

Hope to see you at class!

Each new year come with its own set of predictions for the year. I actually like the gem and crystal trends for this year, which is a surprise. Some of my favorite things to use are on the trend list, so last year  I was just ahead of my time! The blog on Etsy just release a wonderful list of the current gem trends!

The Gem and Crystal Trends You’ll See Everywhere This Year

Statement jewelry is supposedly a thing for the year, and really ugly sunglasses are popular from looking at the fashion shows. Looking at the pictures from the runway shows just seem to be an infestation of aliens. Now models aren’t beautiful, but unique looking. But at least it shows off the jewelry rather well.

The Pantone color of the year was announced as well. A very springy color of green connecting us to nature.

https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-y

Let’s hope these colors and trends are accurate! I don’t plan to change much about my current line to reflect the trends, But I do like making statement Jewelry!

The next class I am teaching is going to be a wire wrapping class.  I have had several requests for this one, so here it is!

We are going to make a pendant with a Faux Dichrotic Glass Center piece. This will be fully wire wrapped around it and a wire bail at the top for the necklace. This should be a really fun class. I am looking forward to teaching it!

The local craft mall that I sell at, the Kountry Nook has recently started hosting craft classes. Somehow I got roped into teaching a few, not that I mind! So I have added to my already packed schedule a crafty class once a month! So my students get to partake in my wittiness while I teach them something amazing!

The first class I did was a dreamcatcher class. I provided all of the supplies and the students got to learn from start to finish how to make a multicolored bohemiann style dreamcatcher!

The gals that took my class seemed to enjoy it!  This was my first teaching experience but feedback from the students was pretty positive.

The next month I thought a class on how to make a set of fiber wrapped bangle bracelets with wire and bead wrapping.

This one was a pretty easy class, the gals there for it were so easygoing and fun, it takes a lot of the stress out of teaching! So thanks for that!!!

For the next class in November, I am planning a wire wrapped stone class. I have had a few requests for this type of tutorial so I am going to give it a shot! I will keep you updated as to the date and time!

I have blogged about GenCon before, but for those who don’t remember I will recap.  GenCon is a 4 day Gaming and role playing convention in Indianapolis IN.  Held at the Indianapolis Convention Center, this years convention was attended by over 56,000 people.  In addition to all of the gaming events, there are workshops, lectures and special classes geared towards the amazing women who attend with their husbands.  Trying to keep with my jewelry interests, I tried to find classes that could be considered educational for me.  I chose a wire wrapping class. In this class we were given a oval pendant which students were going to wrap.

Also given to us was an envelope with 5 long wires and 5 short wires. Using these we would be creating a complete wrapped pendant.  starting by straightening the long wires and facing then all the same way, I then took one of the short wires and wrapped it around the long ones several times.

This was then repeated 4 more times with the other short wires, about an inch apart.

Next I went over to the instructor and she showed me how to bend the wire set to match the pendant.  I then learned how to make a bail to hang the pendant from a necklace, and how to finish off all of the extra wires into spirals.  The finished pendant turned out so well. I was really surprised how well it turned out, and how easy it was.  For those of you who know me, I have been wire wrapping everything I can get my hands on.

Last year was the first year I entered the Altered Book Contest at the Chatham Public Library.  I heard about the contest from my amazing sister Jennifer, my enabler!  This year I was running out of time and thought I couldn’t not submit a project. I had an idea in mind, but I didn’t think i would have time to make it happen.  Somehow I knew I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to get something done.  Well being the procrastinator that i am, the night before the deadline, I started.  My idea for the contest was to make some sort of paper jewelry, since that is mostly my business now.  I spent hours punching paper pieces, and gluing wires into them and attaching them. And Guess what???  I MANAGED TO GET IT DONE!!!!  So here is my finished project.  My necklace was liked so much that I won an award for Most Creative as well!

Blank Slate Wooden Pieces

Hobby Lobby just got some amazing new products in the jewelry department. Blank Slate is a line of unfinished wooden pieces, canvas, lockets, and other embellishable items.  I saw these when one of the lies I work with brought them to show me. She thought they would be right up my alley. She was right, I LOVED these! I want one of every single kind of wooden pieces that we carry.  I figured I would start with the start with the butterfly. I finally opened the package today after having it a few days.

I decided to give them a light coat of white paint, just as a primer.   I then added a bit of teal paint for some color.  Next was some stamping. I got a Tim Holtz rubber stamp for Christmas that I had yet to use, I know, what is wrong with me? Not using a supply for three months? Inconceivable!

Back to the stamp. It’s an unmounted stamp, and I don’t have a stamp block, so I had to improvise.  I inked the stamp and laid it face up on my desk and then put the wooden butterfly on top and pressed down. It worked pretty good!  I painted and inked the other side as well, so if the butterfly flipped over the back side wold not be blank.  I then added some dangly charms, a crystal and some beads.

I am in love with the way this turned out.  I cannot wait to get more Blank Slate wood items to embellish.  Stay tuned to see which one I play with next!

Way back in July I started my Etsy site. It can be found at https://www.etsy.com/shop/RavenwingCreations .  I stated it with the intention of adding more to it quicker than I did, but better late than never.  So now there is a few more items on there and I will be adding more daily as I make them.  I swear I will! At least  few a day.  I really enjoy making jewelry and I can only give my family so much of it.  As it is, my mom wants more of it than she can wear! The red tree of life has already been claimed by her,  She says she wants one like it when I have time!  Gotta love her!!!!  She and my sister are my biggest supporters!

And this copper tree, my mother in law already tried to buy, but I guess for future reference, Etsy does not take Mastercard.  Luckily I will be seeing her this weekend for a personal delivery!  Don’t worry, I will be making her another one, so this one is still for sale in the site.  Today is my day off, so I am hoping to get a lot more made and onto the Etsy site for everyone’s viewing pleasure.  There will be more jewelry, photography, and mixed media artwork to see and maybe purchase.

Keep in mind I can do special requests.  These are the stones available, though I an expecting  shipment of new stones very soon.  More variety means more Trees!!!!!  But for now, I have a great assortment to choose from.  But for now … back to the crafting!!!!