Been a while

It has been some time since I last posted.  During the time away, I took a class on How to run a small arts/crafts business through one of the local colleges on-line.  I have made several miniature ornaments (but haven't gotten any of them photographed).  Hoping to get back into the rhythm this week now the class is almost over.

Thinking of one of these as this year's Exchange Ornament.  Have 24 of each color (plus 4 other colors).  The finial onion shaped ornaments are blown-glass.  I picked them up seven or eight years ago in an After Christmas mark down sale.  I may decide to assign the white to one group and the red to the other group and that way if I have any duplicates between the group, I won't have to quickly make any additional ornaments.

 

I can also make extra to have in my car in case I get caught without a needed gift, I can raid the gift/ornament stash.  Luckily, I had several in my trunk last year, as I had been invited to Christmas dinner (no one told me until an hour before hand) and needed 2 gifts.

Have been already making my lists for ornaments.  Have one person who will receive a set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ornaments, another who I will make a set of Minion ornaments, have several Alabama, Georgia, Duke and UNC (Carolina) ornaments which need to be made.

Ornaments 5 through 12, plus 4 more of the same design

Had a case of 'ho-hums', was unmotivated and didn't have any creative spirit.  I am fairly sure it was based on the fact to I had a co-worker staying with me.  Was supposed to have been for one week, turned into 3 weeks and each night when we got home I would go to my bedroom and read.  Got him to move on and that seems to have re-started things flowing again.  On the weekend of February 22nd-23rd, I started a Ornament Suite of seven ornaments.  One each of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple and an ornament with a spoke in each color.  Finished the seven on March 1st, and on the next day started on colors, Gold, Silver, Black and White.

Joined an ornament exchange a few days again and the person I was partnered with, said she didn't like glittery or gaudy ornaments, but she did like Santas.  There's a little glitter, but not as much as I could have done.

Third Quarter Exchange

I am a member of two ornament exchange groups through Yahoo! Groups, the first one I have exchanged with for over 15 years and is an annual exchange.  You sign up and are given four other members to exchange with.  Everyone makes ornaments for the others, so each year I receive four handmade ornaments from my group.  You can sign-up for two groups and opt for domestic or international groups.  I usually sign up for two groups which means I need to make 8 ornaments.  There have been times when I would make four identical ornaments to send to one group and then make four similar ornaments for the other group.

The second exchange group is similar with the exceptions of exchanging only with one person, and the group exchanges on a quarterly basis but only 3 times.  The groups are moderated by the same people and most members cross-over.  For the Third Quarter (July-October), I made the ornament below.  Using some of the same concepts from earlier designs I had a rough idea of what I would do for this exchange.  The only thing missing was the miniature ornament I would be using at the bottom.  While shopping I found the miniature I used and bought several packages.  The ornaments come in packs of 12 with three different options (that I have found so far).  They are available in packages of 12 bright glitter pink and another in medium glitter gold, then there is a package of 4 each glitter red, glitter green and glitter dark blue.  The gold have golden tops while all the other colors have a silver toned.

I am thinking of using this ornament design for the annual exchange but changing out the silver tops for golden tops that way I can use gold-plated wire, findings and beads.  I find that the gold toned gives a ‘warmer’ feel.  I will most likely make enough of one color to satisfy both groups I have signed up for.  Though it rarely happens, occasionally, I will have the same person in both groups.  Not wanting to send them a double set of the same ornament I can either use a different color or use the alternative design of only 4 arcs instead of the 6 arcs in this ornament.

I am a member in another Yahoo! Groups which has an ornament exchange, but it is not the groups primary purpose.  In the ornament exchange in this group the crafter is expected to produce at least six of the same ornament, send them to the co-ordinator and she will take one from everyone and send then out so when the participants get their box, there are six ornaments inside.

One of the things I also do is make the same ornament to keep for myself.  If I decide to do all the ornaments in the same color scheme I will be making at least 15 of the same ornaments.