Copper Rings Necklace

These rings are real copper; they come from the plumbing section in the home improvement store. I really do love them. After sanding away the coating, the copper is revealed. I then distressed, hammered, oxidized and then sanded again to create the texture. I like how simple this one looks; it's great for both men and women. Since they are real copper, they will darken and develop patina as time goes by.

New Bracelet and Some Antiquing Photos

A new bracelet is in the shop. Also, here are some new photos from one of my favorite antique mall in KC. If you love antiquing, I have a Flickr set with lots of photos from different antique places here in town. They are very inspiring to look at.

Three-Tone Bracelet

Just added this bracelet to the shop. I am actually more of a bracelet person myself. I love how this one is girly and a little rough at the same time.

Gems in my drawer!

My whole team at work just relocated to a different building. One good thing about moving the office is that you are forced to clean up all your junks and probably will find some good stuff in the bottom of the drawers that you've forgotten about. Well, I found these little doodles by my friend Steph who used to sit next to me years ago. She used to draw these everyday, rolled them into tiny balls and tossed over the wall into my cubicle. For whatever strange reason, she kept drawing this one face and just gave her a different body each time. CRACKS ME UP!!!!!! I have to share! To see a big and clear photo, please click here.

PS: Steph also did the doodle in this post, and she made this card.

Orbit Necklace

I don't know why but I love jewelry that has moving parts, maybe it reminds me of toys? I remember when I was little, my mom always brought me along whenever she went to the jewelry shop. I was so bored! Obviously, diamonds just didn't really tickle my fancy at that time (notice I said "at that time"... ha). But I remember being really drawn into one necklace; its pendant was a little glass box with numerous tiny colorful gem stones dancing inside, so shiny and full of movement. Until now I still love seeing motion in jewelry design. Here is a piece I just added to the shop. I love how all parts move separately. And you know what, how that I'm looking at it, it also makes the perfect hypnosis tools... really. :)

Aqua Dream Necklace

Found a box of old chandelier parts in my basement, something I got years and years ago. I am in love with the gorgeous aqua color on the glass. It's kind of like milk glass; really really pretty shade of blue with the slightest bit of gradation toward the bottom part of the tear drop. I had to turn it into a necklace. How could I not to?

PS: Long necklace is so hard to photograph... 0_0

Three Rings Necklace

Made this one last night. It's a little different; I really like it.

Chicken Doodles

I really need to go back and start doing more Illustration Friday again. I got to know many talented artists online because of that site. I was trying to do something for the past week's topic "Chicken"... Oh well, didn't make it in time. So here are some of my chicken doodles from the sketchbook. :)

Pink and Red

Added these two in the shop, just in time for the sweet holiday! :)

Mesh Grid Oxidized Hardware Necklace

The center part was made using mesh screen for doors. Metal hardware has been oxidized and then sanded. Available now.

Hoot In The Loop and Tiny Infinity

Another necklace with a sweet little owl dangling in the hardware loop. I really love how this one turns out. Also, here is a dainty infinity necklace I just made. It's not a true infinity but sure looks like it. It's been hammered and beaten up, then distressed and polished a couple of times to achieve the rugged look.

Both are available now.

Luck + Harmony Hardware Necklace

This one was freshly made today and just added to the shop. I love how these two pieces of horseshoe-shaped hardware hugging and curving around each other. All the parts move individually, too. When I look at it, I also thought, "Hmmm, this one can represent parents and their kids, too." Maybe?

One highlight of my day today: when I was in the hardware store searching high and low of the parts I want, I asked an older gentleman who works there to help me. He asked, while leading me to the area, "So what size do you want?" I told him I have to see it in person because I am using it to make jewelry. He laughed and said, "Well... I guess that's how young minds work, huh?" :)

Necklace Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much for liking my Facebook page and participate in the little giveaway from my new shop. 20 of you have entered the giveaway and the random number generator (www.random.org) picked number 16 as the lucky winner! Congratulations, va!!! Please email your shipping address to me at DoodlingJellyfish [at] yahoo.com so I can mail the necklace to you. Thanks everyone! Xx

I am now on Facebook!

Just a very quick post to let you know that I finally opened a fan page on Facebook. All the blog and shop related stuff will be posted there from now on (this blog is not going away, by the way; it's just I will post on my Facebook as well). I will also share inspirations I found and other stuff. Also you will know about my free give-away or any discount information first hand when you become a fan. Now, would you come and "like" my page?

PS: There is only one Etsy tab allowed per fan page, but I will post updates on both of my shops there on the wall.

Dangling Owl

Made this one last night; I really love how it turns out. It dangles really nicely. :)

I am so happy that we are having a long weekend over here. Are you doing anything special? I just spent 3 hours in the hardware store looking for possible parts. I am going to another one in a little bit, after I eat my lunch/dinner. So glad it's not too cold today, about 27 degrees F (yes that's not too cold at all, comparing to what we've been having in the past couple of days).

Thank you so much for participating in the necklace giveaway! My Etsy store is brand new and needs lots of helps to launch. It's a very tough market on Etsy for any jewelery shops, really hard to get noticed by people. So I really appreciate you guys spreading the words for my humble little store. Love you all! Xx

Made These Last Night + Dress Form

The one on the top were actually 2 washers fixed back to back, so both sides look the same. I first added patina and then took the patina away by polishing and sanding the pendant. This process adds depth to the metal. I am thinking this one can work for guys, too, since the finished look is so simple.

The one on the bottom is made from hardware, wood, metal findings and a root beer can. The short silver color bead necklace is very delicate and almost disappears when you wear in, leaving the pendant being the focus. Both necklaces will be added into my shop soon.



Also, I ordered a life-size dress form; it should arrive today. It's a new one though. I'd love to have one of those vintage Wolf form but they cost a fortune. Yikes! Still I am very excited. That means I can model my jewelries on a real-sized form so people can get a better sense of how the jewelries look like with different outfits on. Will post photos when I have it!

Here is a very interesting film of the manufacturing process of a Wolf dress form, if you are interested.

PS: Thank you all so much for participating in the give-away, There is still time to enter, so spread the words! Keep warm! Xx

Give Away Time: Hardware Necklace from Leporis

Since I just opened my new Etsy shop, it will be nice do to a give away, isn't it? :)

Prize:
I made this necklace last night just for the give-away (not listed in the shop). It has a gray linen button in the center and is embellished with metal hardware, wood and other findings. The pendant is 1.5" wide and comes with a 24" antique bronze chain. It will go nicely with pretty much any outfit.

Rule:
Anybody can enter; the rule is simple and as usual: it's an honor system! Please mention about this give-away and the link of this post via your blog, or you Twitter, your Facebook, or any social media you prefer. Leave me your comment and let me know how you spread the word, and I will pick a lucky winner at the end (using random.org) and mail you the necklace.

The deadline is this coming Sunday at 11 p.m. (central U.S. time). Good luck! Xx

Facebook Question + Leporis Shop Update

I have a question... I've been fighting the idea of getting a Facebook fan page for my blog/shop. I don't want to spam people's Facebook; when I don't have a fan page, my friends are forced to see my blog/shop updates when some of them might not care for that (probably already hid me anyway). If I have a fan page then I won't have to post any blog/shop related stuff on my personal FB account. Should I just go ahead and start a FB fan page??? How many of you use Facebook? I need your input. : )

In the meantime, I am trying to build up the inventory for Laporis. Just added these two babies.

I have a new Etsy shop

I've been thinking about opening another Etsy shop to host my new jewelry pieces because they look so different from my doodle stuff. My new shop's name is Leporis, from the constellation Lepus (the rabbit). I was born in the year of rabbit, but I don't want to name my shop "rabbit" or "bunny". I want a name with a single word that sounds gender neutral and not too cute.

Here are some of the brand new creations in my shop. I went to our local home improvement center and gathered bunch of different parts and hardwares. I played and arranged all the parts until I found a solution that's visually appealing. I then add patinas to all the metal hardwares so they have an aged antique look, then I buffed some of the patina off with sand papers so not all of them have the same colors.







Would you come take a look and give me your feedback if you'd like? And if you have an Etsy account, it will be so wonderful if you can add me into your favorite shop and I will add yours to my fav as well. Let's help each other out.

Stay warm; have a great and safe week! xXxxX

Something I Am Trying

I am trying to come up with some new necklace settings that incorporate my fabric buttons. Here is the first possibility. They are all going to have a longer 24" chain, too.

YouTube Find: Music Painting

This is too good not to share it with you. Pure genius. :)

Happy New Year and New Creations

Happy New Year, my friends! How did you spend your new year's eve? Did you spend it with family, friends, or by yourself? Did you count down? Or you fell asleep before the ball dropped? :) I am sure that we all received tons of new years wishes on our blogs, Facebook, or Twitter. I just want to say that no matter what kind of adventures 2011 brings, I hope we can all face our journeys with courage, grace, and the spirit of thanksgiving. May lots and lots of blessings, love, and creativity fill up your new year to come.


That being said, I've been enjoy a nice Christmas/New Year break (our company shuts down between Christmas and New Year, so we are "forced" to take vacation days anyway). Didn't doodle or craft much during the break, but I did read a lot though (PS: I got a new Amazon Kindle; it's the BEST THING ever! If you are thinking about buying one, just get it!) I ate and slept, and then ate and slept again... haha; it's been nice! But yesterday I finally felt like getting back to normal and making something with my hands. I experimented by making jewelries using soda cans, and today I tweaked the designs a little bit. My goal is to make something that a guy could wear, too, and I made a necklace and a bracelet as starters. Now I just need to raid the office recycle bin for a variety of soda cans after going back to work next week. :)