Experimental Flowers

I've been crocheting since I was in high school, when my grandmother taught me how to do a simple granny square. From that basic pattern, I've made lots of afghans over the years for adults and children. It's a craft of comfort for me, and I almost always have one going, even if I'm focusing on something else. And it makes me think of my grandmother patiently watching my fingers awkwardly stumbing through the yarn.

I decided to make an afghan with the basic granny square format, but I decided to move out of my usual pattern and attempt flowers on each of the four center squares in this blanket. It's got a long way to go before it's finished, and I'll probably do a little more to the flowers, but here is what it looks like now.

It will be fun to see how it looks when I decide it's finished. I've got some other projects in yarn that I'd like to work on in th near future.

I've ordered some polymer clay and lots of jewelry making supplies, so I'll be ready to have some fun in the next few days. If only I could have some more time!

Blessings and Peace,

Jill

I have recently had some advertising placed on The Handmade Product Directory. Some of my work appears on a main page, and I have a banner ad on the page for ceramics and pottery. Some of my work is featured in various gift giving guides.

This site is very nicely done and shows off the work of many artists. I am hopeful that I will see a big increase in sales.

I've listed several Christmas items in my Etsy shop.

There are other pieces in my shop, and I'll be listing another soon.

I love Christmas, the excitement, joy, and love you see in people. Unfortunately, these holidays can also bring a lot of sadness for those who are lonely. Take some extra time to show others you care. You never know what burdens they are carrying. Try to make someone's day a little better every day.

Blessings and Peace,

Jill

Design Style Guide.

In addition to being a part of the BBEST team and WWWG team, I am also a member of the Design Style Guide. This is a very large team on Etsy, full of extremely talented individuals selling items in home decor. Today, I discovered that my nativity set was featured on their blog.

http://designstyleguide.blogspot.com/ What a surprise!!! You can see my nativity set here on my Etsy store.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16980229

And you can find other great items by searching 'interiordesignteam' on Etsy.

I've also listed some new cherubs.

Father/Mother God, thank you for family and friends who care. And thank you for 20 wonderful years. May I remember the good and let go of what is going on now.

October Sale

Some of you know about the challenges that I've been facing throughout September and Ocotber. I am now finally moved and getting settled in my new home. To celebrate, I'm having an October sale. Everything in my shop is 25% off through the end of October. For members of the BBEST and WWWG teams, this sale extends through November. Just put BBEST or WWWG in comments to seller when you make your purchase.

With this move comes another challenge. I have no place to work with my ceramics or pottery, except to paint some unpainted bisque that will not be fired again. I expect this will be for quite a while, until I can have a shed built here. This means I will need to keep busy with my other crafts. So look for new items and more jewelry coming to Jill's Treasure Chest .

I am grateful to all my Etsy friends who helped me through all this. Your friendship means more to me than you can know.

Father/Mother God, thank you for the friends you provided and support from unexpected sources to make this transition less awful than it was. Help me each day to build a new life for me and my son.

Blessings and Peace,
Jill

Body Memories.

It's been a while since I tried making any of these. I could not have told anyone how to do it in a step by step method. Many people believe in "Body Memories." In other words, a part of you remembers how to do things you've done before, but not necessarily on a conscious level. People who knit or crochet experience this. One of the best examples is riding a bike. Once you learn how to keep your balance and go, you just do it. If you're not convinced of this, try putting your shoes and socks on in a different order than you usually do. It's very awkward!

This pair of earrings is made from teal, plum, and pink seed beads, and pink bugle beads. The hooks are surgical steel and they can be purchased in my Etsy shop, Jill's Treasure Chest.

Ceramics and Pottery

I had a great day today out in my shed. It wasn't too hot, amazingly enough for Mississippi in August. I poured some boxes, round, heart, and square and an elephant. Little did I realize when I got the used mold, that this elephant seems to be a planter. Hopefully, it will turn out nice, even though it's not what I was expecting. I still have another elephant mold that I haven't poured yet. Maybe next time.

I also worked on the pottery wheel and came up with a fairly good pot. It's been over a month since I've tried, so I wasn't sure how it would go. It's not a perfect pot, but it's not the worst one I've ever done.

My things are on a pouring table, but I just use it as a place to keep the clay items while they're drying. The pouring motor doesn't work in this machine. I kept hoping that my husband would get it going, but he hasn't been able to work on it yet. The first picture shows some things that I poured last time. I spent time cleaning them today. Hopefully they'll be ready to fire soon. Below is the pot I threw on my wheel.

I'm having a great time learning more about throwing pots. I still have so much to learn, and I don't really know a lot about finishing them up to make them look more professional.

This is Sanura, trying to show me how irresistible she is and that I really need to let her sit on my lap while I type!

Blessings and Peace

Jill

Christmas in July Sale

Hey everyone!! We're having a great sale on Etsy. It's Christmas in July, and many membersof the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team, of which I am happy and proud to be included, are having great sales. I am having 15% off all items in my shop! That's a great deal. So come on by and see everything. Search for Bbest Team for great items and great deals!!!

Here's a few of my newer listings!

July 4th Weekend

July 4th always gives my cause to reflect on how lucky we are to live in this great nation. While I realize that it is stylish to criticize our country and our President, I would like to take the opportunity to thank my Creator for putting me here where I have the freedom to dream and believe that those dreams have a chance to come true. Not only can I have a career where I am paid for my knowldedge and performance, regardless of my gender, race, or spiritual path, but I can change professions if I choose. At age 50 I went back to school, and no government official came to me to scrutinize what I was doing or if I would actually end up using it.

I am free to follow my own spiritual path, which doesn't quite fit into any mainstream religion, and I can attend a church of my choosing, or I can choose to seek God in my own way. If this country is taken over by Islamic fundamentalists, I will lose that valuable priviledge.

I am free to speak my mind as long and, as I am courteous and respectful of others, I have no fear of being put in jail because of my opinions. I can agree or disagree with our government's actions in the present and in the past, and I can voice my ideas on what should be done in the future. I value this priviledge, and honor our government and military for giving that priviledge to those in Iraq who would have been tortured and put to death for such actions.

I am free to wander about without much fear of military or terrorist violence interfering in my activities. Chances are, unless I wander into the wrong part of town, that no one will shoot at me when I leave home. Even if I wander into a more crime filled area of town, there's a good chance that nothing will happen to me if I am careful. I am thankful to our President and the military for keeping further terrorist attacks out of our country, so I can go where I want.

My prayer is that whoever wins in this next election will be able to keep our country safe and have the courage to do what is necessary for that purpose, even if it is not the popular choice.

Blessings and Peace,
Jill

Hot Days of June

It's hot and humid here in central Mississippi. We've been over a week without rain and that is totally unlike what I've seen of the climate here. It's allowed what is normally mud to turn into a very fine dust that completely covers your car and back window.



I've been busy on Etsy, listing new items and relisting some older items that haven't sold. Here are some of my newer items.





Today I joined Etsy's Interior Design team, a team for artists who make home decor. They have a lot of other talented members and I feel priviledged to have been accepted by them in addition to the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team and the Wild, Wise, and Witty Grandmamas Team. Look for shops from each of these teams when you shop at Etsy, and you'll find some great items!

iCraft

I haven't mentioned this new web site because I've been so preoccupied with Etsy, but I have a small store at iCraft. Its address is http://icraft.ca/jillstreasurechest

This site is based in Canada and is focused on hand made creations. One can find jewelry, ceramics and pottery, crocheted items, photography, painting, sewing, paper products, woodworking, and more on this site. It is smaller than Etsy, with under 1000 creators, as we are called on iCraft.

I've only put a few items in this shop, but I plan to expand it slowly, but surely.

My very talented husband has opened a shop on Photoworks. See his work at www.photoworks.com/storefront/heartofdragon

Happy Saturday!!!

I love Saturday mornings when I can sit around and leisurly drink coffee. And I have time for a second cup if I want. Saturdays are good.

Today I will go outside and work on more ceramics, pouring and cleaning items. And I am also going to try a new pot on my pottery wheel. I've been enjoying learning this new skill, and I have to say that for me it's harder than it looks. I watch Pearl from Fehustoneware making a cup on You Tube, and it looks so simple.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5334662
This is Pearl's Etsy shop.

But anyway, let me tell you how easy it is to make clay mush all over your pottery wheel. very easy.

I've had several new listings. Some of them can be found on my Etsy mini.

Blessings and Peace,
Jill

Happy Spring

The forest is alive with lots of white blossoms from Bradford Pear trees, Dogwood trees, and bright splashes of pink Redbud blossoms. They make the drive to and from work a real joy with lots of things to be grateful for.


My new listings show spring and Easter with bunnies and flowers.

First Sale

This was my first sale at Etsy. Something that made it even more special was that it was from a friend. This is one of my favorite angels, so I'm glad she went to someone special.
Of course, I guess all my creations are special in their own way, after spending so much time with them.

Creative Spirit

The creative spirit can wash over me at any time. A conversation with a friend, a picture, something on television, almost anything can bring it on. When I feel creative, it affects every part of my life, and makes me happier.

Today I listed this at my Etsy store.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9956388

Saturday Night Special On Etsy

******************Saturday Night Special***********************
Buy one Ceramic item and get one of Equal or Lesser Value Free.
Free shipping on Jewelry with $25.00 or more purchase.
**********************************************************
www.jillstreasurechest.etsy.com

Saturday Night Special is held every Saturday night. Vendors hold special sales in their shops and post them in the promotions sections of the Etsy forums. THE Saturday night special is Willowtree's Saturday Night Special thread, but other vendors will hold them too.Come visit. You might find something really terrific. If not from me, from one of the other great Etsy Artists.

Blessings and Peace,
Jill

Welcome

Welcome to Jill's Treasures, filled with information about my Etsy store, crafting and my writing. Crafting and writing reflect my spirit of creativity, helping me to become the best I can be while helping me relax.

Please visit my Etsy store at http://www.jillstreasurechest.etsy.com to see some of what I have made.

I am a proud member of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team, a group of people over 40 who are some of the most talented and wonderful people I have had the opportunity to meet online.