Copy Cat #2

CATALOG

Here's the second installment of copy cat jewelry for my FAVORITE mail catalog.  This necklace really caught my eye.  I love the simplicity and elegance.  I knew I could create it for a lot less than $225.  

This chain is oxidized sterling silver, but I could get most of the materials in this necklace and create it for a fraction of the cost.

I have my version listed on etsy for $70.  Everyday beauty and long-lasting luck in a gunmetal plated necklace with beautiful charms including a Hill Tribe silver lotus flower charm, four Hill Tribe silver leaf charms, two pewter etched 
heart charms, and a pewter hamsa hand. This necklace is stunning for everyday wear. Necklace measures 18 inches and has a lobser claw clasp.

And here is a photo of my necklace:

HAMMI JAMMI JEWELRY

Copy Cat Jewelry #1

So I got one of my FAVORITE catalogs in the mail yesterday.  They always have great clothes and accessories inside.  I hardly ever purchase from it, though, because all of the items are beaucoup $$$!

I thought I would try to do a few blog posts on some copy cat jewelry.  This first piece in the catalog would be so pretty for the holidays, but it costs $220.  Who has that kind of money especially when we all have so many things to purchase.

CATALOG

Here is the catalog piece and it's described as cultured pearls (coin, Keishi, rice, and potato) star in our double strand necklace accented with garnets, labradorites and pink opals.  Sterling silver toggle clasp.

COPY CAT

Here is my copy cat necklace.   I had most of the similar materials here at my house.  I used freshwater pearls, labradorite, and garnet.  I also added some fire polished glass and Swarovski crystal briolette.  A pewter toggle clasp and silver plated ring complete the look.  Additionally, I used wire guards at the closure points to prevent wear and tear.

Keep you eyes open for the next 2 installments of copy cat jewelry.  I ordered a few materials that I needed and will have them to you shortly!

You can also purchase this great necklace in my etsy shop.

Made from a Washer

Just a regular old piece of aluminum you can buy at any old hardware store.  I have been having so much fun stamping metal blanks that I get at my bead stores online that I thought I would try out another material.  I think it worked out pretty well.  What do you think?

blue aventurine paired with freshwater pearls and nickel plated beads
AND just a regular old washer from my tool box.

Hand-Stamped Fun

I have done stamping in the past with a standard font, but I recently purchased a new font (story book, if you are wondering) and have been having so much fun making customized pieces of jewelry.  

I can do a beaded, leather, sterling silver, or rhodium chain or cording and I have a variety of brass, silver, and copper stamping blanks.

I can add children's names or a special word of your choosing.  Endless choices of bead colors are available.  You can contact me and we can discuss your needs.

These would be perfect and very special Christmas presents for someone.  I get super busy around the holidays so it's best to contact me earlier rather than later to get your orders in. 

Other news of note, if you follow Hammi Jammi Jewelry on Facebook, you can now shop directly through Facebook.  I just added a "my store" application that interfaces with my etsy shop.

Happy shopping.

Trunk Show

Today I had the honor of being the featured artisan at Spirit Sisters.  What a great little shop in St. Pete's Village; the shop is completely stocked with local artist creations.  Robin, the owner of the shop creates aromatherapy jewelry.  She carries my jewelry and several other jewelry artisans.  She also has some handcrafted soaps, aromatherapy perfumes, smudge sprays, and apothecary items for adults, kids, and infants.

Robin, the owner of Spirit Sisters, sitting at her desk.

Some bracelets from Hammi Jammi Jewelry

Today, we even had the chance to get chair massages.  $1 a minute in the peaceful surroundings of the Village...the windows were open and we could hear the steam flowing through the rocks and boulders. Tranquil is all I can say.  The massage therapist is there pretty regularly on Sundays.

If you live in the local area (or not), I highly suggest you come for a visit.  The St. Pete's Inn has rooms to reserve, a great restaurant with local entertainment.  The bakery is perfect for breakfast/lunch/coffee snacks.  The bakery also has "make your own pizza" on Friday nights (year round) and Saturday nights (during the summer).  My kids, locals and visitors always enjoy climbing around the rocks and making a perfect day of the Village.

Thanks again to all who came out to say hello to me today.  I really appreciate the support for the local artists and community!

It's been a little while......

Summer time hits and I don't know where my time goes....

We've been to the beach (twice), had friends and family visit, my parent's 40th wedding anniversary festivities, and had several camps.  I don't think I've been home all that much....well maybe just long enough to make a few pieces of jewelry and to do wash!

I am usually pretty good about posting pretty regularly on my blog, but it's been almost 2 months, so apparently I'm not THAT good!  I am pretty good at posting on my facebook page so you can keep updated on my new items that way.  Be sure to go there and "like" my page if you haven't already done so.

One of my college besties recently visited me with her kids.  She commissioned me to make a few items for her.  Let me show you what I made (and if you are a facebook liker of Hammi Jammi, I apologize for redundancy).

The first piece is a magnetic hematite wrap bracelet:

HUGE sellers this summer.  I can't make them fast enough.

The next item is a beautiful necklace made with vintage lucite rectangular beads, silk ribbon, smokey glass beads, and some Swarovski crystals.  LOVE LOVE this piece:

I had some leftover beads from her creations and I made a bracelet/earring set.  I really love the color combinations:

It always blows my mind at all the different things you can come up with using the same beads.

I promise it won't be another two months before I post again!!!

Happy rest of summer to you all!

Help Me Choose!

The end of the school year is here.  My eldest son, who is in 3rd grade, is finishing up this week.  He has had the most wonderful teacher this year; she is enthusiastic, keeps the kids thirsting for knowledge, and is just a great human being.  This is the first time that my son has said that he is really going to miss having a teacher.  I have such praise for all teachers who are the caregivers of our child's minds all year long!  If you get a good one then the thirst for knowledge will not be hampered!!!

I wanted to make a special present for Ms. F. and I am having trouble deciding on which one to give her.  Your help is needed in making the decision.  I will pair the necklace with a gift certificate as well.  Please help me out!!!!


Necklace #1: Thanks for helping me BLOOM!

Teachers plant the seeds, water the seeds and watch them grow.  I think this leather flower necklace made with rhodochrosite, twisted Czech glass, acrylic, and Swarovski bi-cones will remind Ms. F. of all the children she's helped BLOOM!

Necklace #2: Thanks for making me WISE!

Teachers give a HOOT about education and this whimsical necklace made with coral and some rose quartz with a handcrafted ceramic owl pendant will remind Ms. F. how her wisdom is imparted on each and every child she teaches.

So which one will it be #1 or #2?????

It's Not Jewelry, But It's Crafty

My youngest son is finished with preschool as of today.  I don't know where the time goes???

With the end of school for the preschoolers and the end for elementary students quickly approaching I thought I would share a teacher present idea with all of you.  I was nominated to take up a collection and come up with the teacher gift.  I had approximately $40 to work with for each of the teachers.  Mrs. N and Mrs. M have been wonderful mentors for these young minds all year long.  I am truly sad that this is my last experience with this preschool (insert sad face here....)

So I came up with this great idea:

I got some perennials and a black monogrammed pot using a sticker and added some some ribbon.  I got 2 gift cards (one for Target and one for Wawa) and made gift card holders out of scrapbook paper I had lying around the house.

One the tag I wrote, "Thanks for helping us bloom!"

Feel free to steal my idea.  Both teachers loved the class gift and best of all, they can enjoy the plants for years to come.

Happy crafting!

Magnetic Personality

♥ Focus ♥ Concentration ♥ Willpower ♥ Reliability ♥ Courage ♥ Confidence ♥ Optimism ♥ Trust ♥ Balance ♥ Stability ♥ Protection

Hematite grounds and protects us.  It strengthens our connection with the earth, making us feel safe and secure. 


It endows us with courage, strength, endurance and vitality.  A "stone for the mind", Hematite stimulates concentration and focus, enhancing memory and original thought.

Hematite utilizes the magnetic qualities of our yin-yang energies to balance the meridians within the body and to provide a stable equilibrium between the ethereal nervous system and the physical nervous system.  It focuses energy and emotions for balance between the body, mind and spirit.

Dissolves negativity and prevents you from absorbing the negativity of others.  Haematite is strong, supporting timidity, boosting self-esteem and survivability, enhancing willpower and reliability, and imparting confidence.  It helps to overcome compulsions and addictions, treating overeating, smoking and other forms of overindulgence. 

These bracelets/necklaces are so fun to wear.  Unwrapped they measure 36 inches and are held together with magnetic hematite.  Can be worn wrapped around your wrist several times or twice around your neck as a necklace.

"Ground yourself, strip yourself down, To blind, loving silence.  Stay there, until you see. You are gazing at the Light. With its own ageless eyes." ~ Rumi

Wordless Wenesday

The Legend of the Lotus Flower

Because lotuses grow out of the mud pure and clean, like morning dew from Heaven or water in springtime from a flower creek, lotus decorations and designs are everywhere the eye turns. Even other flowers-like these magnolias-are piled into lotus shapes.

Chinese poets also use lotus flowers to inspire people to continue striving through difficulties and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how bad the circumstances may be. This is understood as being just like the lotus flower, bringing beauty and light from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond.

Another symbolic characteristic of the lotus flower leads from the observation that the plant's stalk is easy to bend in two, but is very hard to break because of its many strong sinuous fibres. Poets use this to represent a close unbreakable relationship between two lovers or the members within a family, showing that no matter how far away they might live nothing can really separate them in heart.

In Buddhism the lotus flower symbolizes faithfulness. The golden lotus that is mentioned in Buddhist sutras has two meanings, one is the symbol for the achievement of enlightenment and the other points towards a real flower which is beyond our normal perception.

Shamballa-style bracelet made with brown 2mm leather.
Handcrafted ceramic beads and button lotus flower closure.
Adjustable in size using a sliding knot clasp.

Ode to a Dragonfly

crystal dragonfly

cast upon the breeze

fragile- like a dream

For The Love Of Larimar

I recently took my second trip to the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic.  It's pristine beaches, amazing all-inclusive resorts, friendly people, and relaxation keep drawing me back to the island shared with Haiti.

On my first trip to Punta Cana, I picked up a beautiful Larimar pendant set in sterling silver.  Larimar is a beautiful blue gemstone that is only found in the Dominican Republic. Its blue color is very similar to that of the tropical beach waters and because of its appearance, it is frequently mistaken for turquoise. Larimar stones are thought to have formed years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. It is theorized that as magma was forced from beneath the earth’s surface, it mixed with a variety of substances such as aluminum compounds, sodium, calcium and iron.


Because larimar is indigenous to the Dominican Republic and because of its unusual beauty, there is naturally a lot of Dominican folklore surrounding it. It is often looked upon as a powerful, spiritual stone. It is said to soothe, heal and enlighten. It is supposed to enable one to view things from a different perspective. The stone itself represents peace, clarity and love and is recommended for people who are stressed. This is all undoubtedly due to its tranquil blue color. 


So I finally created a necklace using the pendant and some matching earrings.  I paired the Larimar pendant with some Czech glass roundelles and some bead capped vintage crystals.  I can't wait to wear (or sell) these pieces.  It will remind the wearer of the beautiful oceans and calming nature of the sea!!!

Two Opportunities To Help Cancer Patients, Survivors, And Families

Many of you don't know this about me, but in a past life I worked in healthcare.  I have a Master's in Public Health with an emphasis in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education.  This blog is primarily about my jewelry musings, but sometimes health and jewelry can mingle.


I have been volunteering my time in getting grants for The Gallery School of Pottstown, a non-profit community art school.  One such grant was recently accepted into the "online voting" phase and I could use your help, even if you don't live in the area.


Let me tell you a little bit about the program:

The Gallery School of Pottstown in partnership with The Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center- a Fox Chase Cancer Partner- has been selected as a candidate for the 2012 LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project. The project brings proven cancer support programs to communities across the United States and finalists will be determined through an online voting campaign. Applicants with the top votes per region will receive a financial award of support to replicate and implement a sustainable program dedicated to supporting families fighting cancer. Finalists will also receive tools and resources from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

To support the Gallery School of Pottstown, click here and vote by no later than 6:00 pm EDT, Friday, March 23, 2012. 

***************************************

I am also involved on the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Organization signature event, Yoga on the Steps.  This will be my third year fundraising and participating with over a thousand other yogis all for the same cause.  The culmination of events is when we all do yoga on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum on May 20, 2012.

Part of my team fundraising is making jewelry to sell where 75% of the profits will go to the  LBBC Organization.

I have created two versions of the "Give a Hoot for Hooters" bracelets and they are for sale for $35.00 in my etsy shoppe.

And the winner is....

Thanks to all who voted for my "Keys to My Heart" necklace in the Beadaholique contest.  With your help, I won the contest with 320 votes.  I will get $100 gift certificate to their store and some publicity in their newsletter.  I am very excited!


And without further ado...the winner of the necklace is kitblu.  I will email her directly...so if you are kitblu....check your email....


And thanks again for all your support!!!

Giveaway: Keys To My Heart Necklace

Hi everyone.

I entered a necklace in a design contest and I could really use your help.  If you are connected to Facebook all you have to do is go here and like this photo.  I am in the running to win $100 gift certificate and some publicity.  I plan on using the money to help defer costs of a breast cancer fundraising bracelet that I'm making to help the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Organization.  PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!!


Leave a comment on my blog that you "liked" the photo and be sure to leave your email address.  I will choose one winner at random to win this necklace!






Thanks for your support.
Carrie

Scrabble Tile Necklaces

It’s only February and I am gearing up for the summer already.  Each year I teach a jewelry making class at a local day camp in West Chester.  I came across an easy project that can be done in allotted time period of 30 minutes.  I will prepare the scrabble tile pendants before the class and the girls (ages 7-13) will do the beading work that goes along with the project.

I thought I would share this easy project with all my readers.  

To Make the Pendants:

1)    Pick some mixed media art that you would like to use in your project.  The images I picked were geared towards tween girls, but you can even find pretty images that adult woman could wear.  I found my art in Designs By Linda Nee’s etsy shoppe.  I purchased the art and she emailed me the file.  I then had the images printed on photo paper at Target, although you could print the images at home on an inkjet.

2)   Beadaholique is an online store that sells these epoxy stickers that are specifically designed for scrabble tile pendants and will fit over your art.  So order some of these to make your project easy peasy!  They also sell the small glue on pendant bails that you will need to purchase.  Adhesives you will need are Mod Podge to glue the art onto the scrabble tile and some E6000 to glue your small pendant bail onto the scrabble tile.

3)   Once you have all these purchased materials and a scrabble tile, the process is simple. 

a.     You will take your artwork (which should already be sized to fit the scrabble tile-if you buy scrabble-tile-specific art) and lay it flat. 

b.     Then you will take the epoxy sticker and cut it out keeping on the backing and the protective covering. 

c.     Remove the sticker backing and carefully place it over the top of your art.  Gently push on the sticker to remove any air pockets and then remove the front protective covering.

d.    Take an exacto knife or scissors and cut any excess sticker from around your art.

e.     Take your scrabble tile and apply Mod Podge adhesive to the side without the letter.  Also add some adhesive to the back of your epoxy art.  Apply the sticker with art to your scrabble tile and remove any excess glue.  Let dry for 30 minutes.

f.     Now you are ready to apply the small bail to your pendant.  Take some of the E6000 adhesive and, using a toothpick, apply to the letter side of the scrabble tile.  Add your bail to the glue and let dry for 30 minutes.

g.    Now you can use coordinating beads to finish off your project or use a simple ball chain if you are not an experienced beader.

There is a great video at Beadaholique’s website if you run into problems.  The instructional video is listed under “Mixed Media” and titled “How to Make a Scrabble Tile Pendant Using Epoxy Stickers.”

Love is Patient, Love is Kind

Love is patient and kind; It is not jealous or conceited or proud;
Love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable;
Love does not keep a record of wrongs;
Love is not happy with evil, but rejoices in the truth.

Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail.
Love is eternal.

~1 Corinthians 13

This verse is usually associated with  a  marriage or committed relationship.  I also think of this when it comes to friendships- true, genuine friendships- and how hard it is to find people who fit this definition of love.  When you find someone like this you need to hold on for dear life!

I have a friend I will call Anne*.  She has 5 children.  She's had a pretty crappy past year- youngest child- her 2 year old son- had a stroke and heart surgery, she lost some friendships that she thought were near and dear to her- only to find out that these friendships weren't genuine and only self-centered.  Nonetheless, the loss of these friendships are still difficult  and painful.  You go through a grieving process and wonder what the hell YOU did.  But when someone is a narcissist, YOU didn't do anything wrong...you were just part of the game.  The narcissist doesn't even consciously realize that they are the root of all evil!  That is probably the worst part of it- you will never get an apology; they don't even realize that they cause so much pain and aren't capable of caring.

Well Anne and I have become friends and I am so blessed to have had the chance to know her.  When I meet new people I can usually tell within a small bit of time if I will be friends with the person.  I knew pretty quickly that we could be friends- and not just because of our common ground with being burned by the same person.  We are both genuine people who can share without judgement, we can be happy for each other when milestones and good things happy, we don't expect anything from each other- just genuine compassion for the human spirit.

I saw this pendant at a shop that I frequently purchase beads from and I thought of Anne.  She loves spirals.  I wanted to make her something that would put a smile on her face.  I don't expect anything in return- just her friendship.  I wanted to thank her for being part of my life.

So, thank you, Anne for being in my circle of friends and sharing this life journey with me.  I am blessed beyond measure!

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.  Anne will know who she is!