The Bird is Back

Get the business online for real: Take 2

Since last posting I stayed in Florida for a while running a booth at the Florida Renaissance Faire, then working for a couture tailor who specializes in period clothing, during that time I was also working in the costume shop of the Florida Grand Opera for several months on their production of Carmen.  From there it was madness from May until September; working in 5 states over 4 months, moving 1,500 miles back to Michigan, new room mates, the works.


I have gone from Florida to Michigan, to Chicago, to Michigan, to Florida, to Michigan, to Chicago, to Michigan, to New York, to Michigan, to Florida and back to Michigan, this time with a moving van, since last posting, Ugh.

But I am home with the majority of Family and Friends (many of which fall in the Family category, aka my "Framly"). I have a brand new, awesome studio space in a basement bedroom, it even gets daylight! A studio with natural light, central air and heat, that I can actually use. It's a first and I am thrilled with it.  


Last week I set up a small space for shooting photos in my studio, it consists of a low table for displaying items, three lights, a neutral backdrop pinned to the walls, a tripod and a few props.  It is simple and all I had to buy for it was the camera tripod, the rest was scavenged from around the house.  The hope is that I have fewer excuses not to photograph my work if I had a semi-permanent photography studio.  I have been using it constantly since I set it up, so that idea appears to be working.

On that note: I have recently completed several commissions, one of which was an exquisite set of wedding jewelry for a college friend of mine: the earrings are white gold with crystals and pearls, while the necklace is sterling silver with more pearls and crystals.  This project allowed me to design with materials I rarely use, including A+ grade freshwater pearls, with beautiful, smooth, high gloss surfaces that glow. For information general information on pearls click here. For information on pearl grading click here. For more detailed information look on both subjects see the Pearl-Guide.com section for freshwater pearls.

The necklace and earrings in their display box.

The necklace modeled by Janea Schimmel.

The hand made heart clasp came from Rockis Supplies on Etsy.  The uppermost pearl dangle is hooked into the spot where the hook goes for the brides preferred length adjustment, hopefully this will save having to fumble with placement on her special day.