March Blog-o-sphere Think Tank

March's topic: best childhood/ younger years memory?

.............................................................................................................mmm..............................

not that I had bad childhood or anything but nothing really stands out to be that good. my parents took us to beautiful places for mountain hiking, field trips but all I remember is how tire I was from walking and just wanted to go home to read and craft. so my good memories are books I read & things I made. and the best is this!

OMG, these books bring back so many memories! I used to make everyone of these felt dolls that was in these books. and my dad bought them from me. I don't know what he did with them (probably gave to his students?) but I guess you can say that he was my first customer:) and when I was searching for book's pictures just now, I found her (author, Terumi Ootaka) blog! amazing after 30years.... wow.

here are more fun childhood memories...

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
Kathleen Krucoff http://mysticalmythicalmetalwork.wordpress.com/
Laura Flavin: http://modernbirdjewelry.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kelly: http://www.wendykianakelly.com/
Stephanie Nocito Clark http://thethinkingsofacoldweathergirl.blogspot.com/
Brad Severtson: http://hammeringoutaliving.blogspot.com/
Andrea Bell: http://feathersfreesiasandfishingtackle.blogspot.com/
Shaun Young http://shaunyoung.ca/
Pal Gooz http://pmgart.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/

Happy Crafting & Hope for quick recovery in Japan!

February Blog-o-sphere Think Tank

~"Your favourite winter meal/ recipe?"

Ha ha… I don’t really have “recipe”… I cook daily but not because I like to cook. I cook so my family can eat decent fresh meal. My meal has to be simple & easy! But usually pretty tasty too:) in winter I cook soups a lot. What kind is depends on what else I’m having that day and what’s in my refrigerator.

Simple & Easy but Tasty Soup
1) Put sliced onion & shredded carrot in the water and boil
2) Vegetable bouillon
3) Little sea salt & pepper
4) Soy sauce
5) Drop or two sesame oil
6) Farm tofu (cut in cubes)
7) Spinach

I struggle what to cook daily… I cannot wait to see everyone’s recipe for inspiration! Here is other blog that talks about same topic

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
Stephanie Nocito Clark: http://thethinkingsofacoldweathergirl.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Skiles: http://www.kaskiles.com/
Shaun Young: http://shaunyoung.ca/
Brad Severtson: http://hammeringoutaliving.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kelly: http://www.wendykianakelly.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Krucoff: http://mysticalmythicalmetalwork.wordpress.com/
Kathryn Cole: http://www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com/

Happy Cooking:)

February 14th Talk About Blog

~What’s the most romantic piece you’ve ever made and why?




Wow, this is tough one! I made so many pieces and I try to put little romance in every piece. But as I was thinking about this topic I remember the one custom piece I made a while back. A customer requested earrings inspired from this cute quote: 'A Bird and A Fish Can Fall in Love, But Where Will They Live?' isn’t this a cutest?! And she wanted bird and fish to be like but you can tell the differences of bird and fish and in different colors. I was delighted to design & made this piece!

And most recently, I made this cherry blossom ring that I think it’s so darn romantic! The ring is on sale on Handmade Division team shop. And I’m working on necklace & bracelets next!



Now, let’s go see more romantic pieces the other team mates made!
Rickson Jewellery: http://www.ricksonart.blogspot.com/
andes cruz http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
http://barbaradonovan.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Crafting!

January Handmade Division Talk About Blog

~In another life I was.... and I made.... for a living. (fill in the blanks)~

I wish I could know! I was definitely making something for living. Perhaps, I was a seamstress in one life, clothing designer in the other. Sewing and making dress just seem so natural to me. I bet I was doing that in one point or the other.

Ok, so ~in another life I was dress maker and I made dresses for a living.

And I guess you’ll never forget things that you made with your heart & soul. My sister told me that our grandmother who is almost 90years old, living in the nursing home and can’t recognize her own daughter anymore… was showing my sister thing that she made (the things she already showed us before) and explain how she made it, every step by step why she did that way this and that… then my sister said to me I’ll be that way one day. Well this feels little sad but my point was even though it was in another life and you cannot remember, your soul will remember! So I’d like to make every piece of jewelry with my heart & soul!

Happy crafting :)

Here is the link to other handmade division teammate talking about the same topic:
Andes Cruz : www.andescruz.wordpress.com
Rickson Jewellery: www.RicksonJewellery.blogspot.com

I must say I’m very sad that not much participation this month… I love “talk about blog”!

Handmade Division December Talk about blog

~December's topic: Where do you aspire to be in 5 years?

it's been more than 2 years since I don't have a "day job". I stay home and make jewelry for living. this was really a dream of mine and I love it! but because I love so much, I work too much... sometime I feel bad if I couldn't pay more attention to my family. so! I came up with perfect solution! I'll open a little shop/studio in Japan with my sister for the summer. (so my sister can handle all the no-fun business end of stuff) location I'm thinking of is tourist town that only open for the summer. while I work in my shop, my husband and my son can go explore Japan. and we will talk about our day over the dinner. this way, I can work without feeling guilty!

as for rest of the year, I hope I'm continue to do what I'm doing now. still have my Etsy shop if Etsy still exists but I really want to establish my website. build local customer base. and focus more in one-of-a-kind work.

above all, I hope I'll still make every piece of jewelry with joy, still learning and trying new thing, and keep dreaming:)

now, let's go see what other wonderful artists of Handmade Division are aspire to be~


Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/

Tess Norberg: http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/

Rebekah Timlin Meddles: http://www.lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery : http://www.bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/

JJ Papke: http://www.rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/

Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran: http://www.nanopod.wordpress.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/



happy crafting:)

Handmade Division October talk about….

“Tell us about yourself - how did you get to where you are now with your skills?”

My journey to jewelry making began about 15 years ago. My friend gave me a beaded pendant kit when I was burned out from sewing and looking for something new to try. After I completed that kit, I went get more beads along with few supplies and start to make jewelry. Although I learned a lot on my own, when I think about how I get to where I am now with my skills, I have to give credit to Columbus cultural art center for it. This place amazes me to no end. The variety of classes they offer, the level of teachers and how affordable they are… My friend/co-worker at the time was attending there and told me about it. I was looking for ways to make my own beads so I start to take polymer clay class in spring of 2007. Then, she didn’t have classes in summer so I took copper enameling instead. And when I acquainted with enameling I felt that I found my medium. So I am now enameling for about three years and I’m now taking jewelry class that focused on metal work.

When I thought about this topic, I went to my Flickr page and look from the beginning page. Wow, talk about walking down the memory lane! I have pictures up since august of 2007 and looking at those pieces makes me so emotional… a lot of pieces were gift and most are progression of learning and try new things.

this is few cloisonne piece I ever done. a gift to my friend. design much with his tattoo. one of my first enamel piece that I absolutely love. I gifted to my good friend for his birthday.
enamel piece set in polymer clay. the enamel piece was mistake but end it up something so unusual. my teacher has it. I trade her with one of her fabulous piece.
polymer clay brooch. my favorite autumn pin:)

made from polymer clay. my friend treasure it:)

now, let's go see what other talented artists are talking about...

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tess Norberg/ Nova Designs: http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bill Martin/ Purified Art: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com
Emily Watson/ Metal Emily: http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com/
Susan Moloney: http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran/ Nanopod: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Metalriot/ Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
NEDbeads/ Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Tamra Gentry - http://www.jewelrydesignchronicles.com/
Rosy Revolver/ JJ Papke- http://rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/
Alisa Miller- http://alisamiller.blogspot.com
WATTO/ Mary Spencer- http://www.wattoonline.blogspot.com/

Happy crafting:)

Handmade Division Etsy Team September Talk about blog

Septembers Topic: "Where do you draw your inspirations for creating from?" I get inspirations from just browsing on Etsy… haha, just kidding! Sorry if it wasn’t funny… but anyway, I thought about this and although inspirations are everywhere, I have to say I most get inspire from changes in the season. I love to think about up-coming season, think about colors and jewelry design. First, colors are most important to me. Every season feels different colors and I think about how to express the colors with enamels. I love to cook-up the colors in my mind, kind of like when you think about new recipe… (I often think about this but how I make jewelry is a lot like how I cook) and just try the recipe out! Sometime they comes out just as I imagine, sometime it’s blah… and sometimes they come out very different than I imagined but I love it anyway. It’s all fun & good times!!


Another things the give me inspirations is my customers. I love getting custom orders and I feel great joy to trying to make just what the customers wanting. They often let me try something I’d never thought on my own and from that, I inspire to make something else.
It’s always like snowballing. Make one thing and that would let to the next thing… keep growing… never ends… well, I hope it never ends!

Now let’s go see what other members else say about this topic!
Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Susan Moloney: http://susarto.blogspot.com/
mAlice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Rebekah Meddles (Lunasa Designs Jewelry): http://lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
nanotopia: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/

Bella-Bijou Jewellery http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/

happy crafting:)

Handmade Division ~August Take about blog

"Talk about something you'd like to create, that you maybe don't have the skills or technology to do currently? "

Oh, isn’t it fun to just think about what you’d like to create? I have list of things I’d like to do one day. painting, photography, pottery… to just name a few. But anything I want to do, if I really want to do it it’s possible. I don’t do because I feel that I don’t have time. There are still so many techniques I’d like to and I need to learn about jewelry making and enameling. Since I’m trying to make a living with my jewelry, I feel I should do that first. But when my son grows up and I’d have all day long… I really want to sew for fun. Make clothes for myself! I used to sew all the time. I go to fabric store daily to see what I’m going to make next and take some fabric home, start to sew and wear that the next day or two! But when I try to sew for money, it took all the fun out of me and didn’t want to sew anymore…well, that’s why I start to make jewelry so maybe that was good thing… but someday I would love to sew again!

Now, let’s go see what other artists are dreaming to create. Maybe I get some more ideas too…:)

NEDbeads: http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers: http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
Purified Art: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Nova of Sweden http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Moxie & Oliver: http://moxieandoliver.blogspot.com/
Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

Tosca Teran http://nanopod.wordpress.com/

happy crafting:)

HD Talk about blog ~JUNE

"Do you consider yourself only a XXX artist, or do you work in multi media application, and/or draw techniques from other fields to use in the on you're working in? "


this is very good topic. I think about this sometime. specially when I making a business card. what I call myself? what is my title? then I get confuse and end up not putting any title on my card. I'm enamelist. enamel is my main medium. but I don't think I'm "enamel artist".... I use my enameled pieces for my jewelry design. and I make many other kind of jewelry. so am I "jewelry artist" then? not really. not all jewelry I make is about art. I'm definitely a "jeweler". but I don't do repairers & ring sizing stuff so I'm not sure about this either. so you see how confused I get? I'm very interesting to know how other artist decide what they call them self or how they decide.

enamel cabs in handmade bezel setting
handmade karma circle & gem stone
photo pendant

visit other awesome artists blog on this topic. ...maybe I'll find my answer!

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Maureen BZ (Cosmo's Moon) http://cosmosmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Susan Moloney http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Tamra Gentry http://jewelrydesignchronicles.wordpress.com/
Bill Martin http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/

Handmade Division ~We are talking about...

~What item do you most treasure made by another artist? ( if there is one) If not, how about what would you *like* to have?~ fun topic this month! For me, I definitely have to say the Japanese doll my grandma made for me. Because she is not only a great artist but she is my roots. It’s little funny to call her “artist” because I bet she never though she is! She is retire teacher. She taught me how to saw when I was six. She do beautiful paper art and many many other crafts. And even though we work in different media, I can definitely see same quality in her work. So million thanks to grandma! I love you:) xoxo

please visit what other members of Handmade Division is talking about regard to this topic…

HandMade Division Blog http://handmadedivision.wordpress.com/Andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tosca - http://www.nanopod.wordpress.com/Susan Moloney - http://susarto.blogspot.com/WATTO- http://www.wattoonline.blogspot.com/Ceeb Wassermann - http://mettledesignstudio.blogspot.com/Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/Rickson- http://ricksonart.blogspot.com/Tamra Gentry http://jewelrydesignchronicles.wordpress.com/Purified Art - http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/SandFibers - http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/ArtJewel Designs - http://artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/kerin rose-http://kerinrose.blogspot.com/Abhaya Fibers - http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/

And I had to add my newest Etsy purchase that happened to be on my feet! Very cute very comfy crochet slippers from Broken Hallelujah!

Snow Leopard Network talk about ---

How do you view the topic of "copying"? What does it mean to you? ---
Ok, “copying” for me have to be an exact duplicate of my work. I think we are all inspiring each other in some way and specially I make jewelry in simple design, it’s so easy to be look like. But if you design from within and put your own twists, it’s always your original & yours only. I love to look at all the beautiful things on Etsy but never to copy anyone. But maybe those beautiful things are store in my head and sometimes could appear in my jewelry designs. So, I will not say it’s copied just because the design elements and styles are like. And a lot of times, “copy” defines the “original”. “copy” makes the “original” shine. But I don’t know how I would feel if I see some jewelry that look exactly like mine. Like I say, I make simple jewelry so I see some that’s similar to mine. But what if I see exact same poppy earrings as mine? Wow, that would be creepy! Although, it's kind of heard to copy exact. As I have my own “recipe” for enamel colors. So, your own recipe & many repertory wold prevent from copy cat. But wait… “copy” is not always a bad thing. When you try to learn new things by copying, it’s a good thing! I remember I made every felted doll in the book when I was little. The book was awesome. Came with patterns and everything. I think it’s bad when you make something by copying others and call it your own. That’s bad, bad, bad!

now, please go see what other “original” artists are talking about regarding this topic ---

ArtJewel designs- http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/

Andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/

Tosca Teran - http://nanopod.wordpress.com/

Tamra Gentry - http://jewelrydesignchronicles.wordpress.com/

alisa miller - http://alisamiller.blogspot.com/

Mary Spencer-http://wattoonline.blogspot.com/

Thomasin Durgin - http://www.metalriot.blogspot.com/

Susan Moloney - http://susarto.blogspot.com/

Snow Leopard Network Blog Carnival

" What thing have you created that you most treasure? This is the topic of our new blog carnival! It was interesting to think about. I made many many things in my life. I was crafting girl ever since I was just a little girl. But I really don’t have anything I made except jewelry (I wear my handmade jewelry all the time but most of them I wear because it’s new design and I just want to see how it’s wear or something I keep because it’s not sellable), dress or scarves I occasionaly wear (I guess I like to make something I can wear:) but not neccesaly I treasure… so! Then I remember this piece. It was my first cloisonne piece that I made. It was about two years ago just few month after I start to taking enameling class once a week, my teacher at the time hold special cloisonne class one day. Cloisonne is enameling technique that use wire to separate area of enamel color. It could be very intricate and require many many firing. But maby because I was use to working with wire or perhaps she was brilliant teacher, my first cloisonne piece came out so beautiful! I couldn’t belive I made it!! And till this day, this is the best cloisonne piece I ever made. Or maybe I just not making much cloisonne piece…. It’s not my favorite thing to do…

please visit other blog carnival participants!

andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

ArttJewel designs – artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com

Alice Istanbul Designs http://istanbuldesigns.com/blog

Purified Art - http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/

Rosy Revolver: A Newfangled Rhetoric - http://www.rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/

And fabulous snow leopard network’s blog - http://snowleopardnetwork.wordpress.com/

MetalRiot - http://metalriot.blogspot.com/2010/03/treasured-item.html

Ps. I love Flickr! I was looking for this picture in my Flickr page and it was fun to see my earlier pieces!!