Two New Steampunk Designs!

I posted these on Flickr, but I want to share them here too!

One of the joys I've discovered is working with Pocket Watches. I have always admired and loved Steampunk, but it was only recently that I begun to delve into this beautiful fantasy world filled with enchanting and inspiring designs.

I have been timid at first in my designs, working with single chains and small glass stones and swarovski crystals. This design was a leap for me, and I am delighted how it turned out.

Isabella Steampunk Pocket Watch Layered Choker Necklace

 

This necklace was a delight to make. I spent 4 wonderful hours creating this piece using upcycled chain that have been waiting nearly a whole year for a purpose. A year ago I would never have thought it would have turned from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan design (a swan with a pocket watch).

I love how this necklace hangs on the neck. A full hour was spent just making sure it hung just right. Some elements had to be taken away to make the composition perfect.

This is a close up of the beautiful lattice work on the Pocket Watch. The Pocket Watch really finishes this look, and it just wouldn't be a complete necklace without it.

This design is the start of something new as my creativity expands. I am constantly inspired and looking at what else I can do. I love working with Pocket Watches and taking something masculine and working with a masculine saturated style (steampunk) and making something feminine and unique. This specific design is not as feminine as my designs using lucite flowers.

You can find this necklace on my shop here: Isabella Layered Steampunk Choker on Etsy

Victorian Goddess - Lariat Heart Locket Vintage Style Necklace

I loved creating this design. It is a new design for me. I started with the idea of using a toggle to hold a centerpiece and open at the front instead of behind the neck. The idea grew into this beautiful design. 

 I love working with antique brass, and this beautiful heart locket was looking for a home. I originally had a simple design in mind, but after discovering these beautiful chunky, high quality glass stones and beautiful, large toggle - this design began to form in my mind.

I tried this technique of clustering beautiful, small stones together atop another big stone. Since I am self taught, I refused to research this technique, and instead problem solved it in my head. Then I quickly realized how simple the technique was.

I was skeptical at first of adding this element into this design. I was worried it would become too busy when I wanted the pendant to be the focal point. I decided to just try it and see, and I think it came out beautifully. I am glad I decided to take the leap.

You can find this necklace here: Victorian Goddess Necklace on Etsy

These are my two newest designs. I am very proud of them, and there will be more in the foreseeable future. 

More Than Metal: Melissa Arnold

More Than Metal: Melissa Arnold: "Work by Melissa Arnold www.etsy.com/shop/Sahetah Artist Bio: Melissa delved into art from a very young age, from ink drawings, ske..."

More Than Metal: More Than Metal is a love letter to jewellery love...

More Than Metal: More Than Metal is a love letter to jewellery love...: "More Than Metal is a love letter to jewellery lovers and designers in Toronto. This show gathers the best of one of a kind jewellery in Toronto made with a diversity of mediums, including metals, wood, clay, bead, lost and found objects, paper, glass, fiber, and gathers them in a multiplicity of styles – all for one day under one roof.

When: Sunday July 10 2011 - 11-4PM
Where: 23 Prince Arthur Ave. (at Bloor & Avenue Rd) - The Women's Art Association of Canada house


Come to the More Than Metal Show to see me and other great Artists!!

Shipwrecks and Bravery at Craftstock2

It was a great event, small and not too stressful at all. In fact it was very fun, and there were lots of really cool people. I met some great crafty and innovative people who also set up shop, splitting tables and enjoying deeeeelicious cookies from CookieFridayco as people listened to some really great, local indie bands and singers.

I will introduce you to each Vendor, but for today I want you to meet a very special girl named Tara!

I got to sit beside this wonderful crafter in silk screening, textiles and knitting who came a long way for this fun event! Hard times has really hit her good, without a job and taking care of an elderly lady . She came to this event with less than 20 bucks to her name and only wished she could make enough to cover her fare home. None of which cramped her style, she had a cheerful demeanor, friendly and funny and she was certainly great company. Her lovely work can be found at shipwrecksandbravery.com

Through all this excitement, I had left behind a gorgeous pink coffee cup cozy. I was too busy thinking about 'what to get a man?' and 'I'm soooooo hungry I have to eat all those cookies!!!' that I forgot to get something that I think is PERFECT for my sensitive fingers because I can't STAND coffee cups. They burn my hands, even when I double cup. (sorry eco-lovers I just can't help it, coffee cups really do give me burns but I do recycle) So here Tara has the perfect solution.

And here it is - the one I left behind!! =(

Cherry Blossom Coffee Cozy

Here is her lovely set up right beside mine! I love her robust and crafty look. Something I could never achieve!! You can see the collection of Coffee Cozies of such a beautiful variety ready to be used! One gentlemen thought he could use it for his guitar, but for the moment, they are not for guitars!! (sorry guitar lovers you cannot cozy your guitar)

People loved these pins. They are wonderful gifts, and the compass and anchor were the favorites.

note: Compass pin does not actually give directions

Please check out her shop and consider one of these lovelies as a gift for yourself or a friend!

Tara was a lovely girl and I was so glad to have met her, she was a joy to sit beside when the crowds were busy with the bands and beer. I'm hoping I'll run into her again soon! =)

Look Out!

Lots of new items will appear in my Shop. I made so many wonderful treats for Craftstock and some of them will soon be available in my shop! Here is a sneak peak of some items you'll see soon!!

Aqua Steampunk Victorian Girl Necklace

Pink and Purple Swirl Steampunk Pocket Watch Necklace

And here are a few things that sold at the Craftstock event!!!

Dyed Agate Steampunk Pocket Watch Necklace

Vintage Pink Victorian Heart Locket

The Craftstock Indie Event was amazing! Can't wait to share with you all some amazing talented people out there. Keep your eyes open for a post about the Crafstock Event!

So Excited!!

Lots of fun things have been happening lately. How do I fit it all in one post?

To start, I got accepted into an amazing group called the 'Artisan Group' that participates in the 'gift lounges' for Celebrities after things like the Oscars and the Emmy Awards. I just presented them with some of my jewelry from my 'Victorian Romance' Collection which is a growing collection of street wear and urban jewelry with a Victorian and Vintage feel.

Maple Gardens - Amethyst Maple Leaf Victorian Inspired Vintage Style Necklace

By

Sahetah's Jewelry

At the time they were full up on reservations for the Primetime Emmy Awards in September, but turns out a few weeks later they had a few spots open for people to submit their business cards for the swag bags the celebrities receive as gifts. So I have reserved a spot, and as we speak some wonderful new business cards are being designed just for this occassion - except I love the design sooo much that I think it will become my main business card too! Who knows, perhaps even a banner!

Secondly, I have an amazing, AMAZING dog named Tasha. I submitted a photo with Sympatico and explained a little bit about why she's so amazing and she's been nominated as one of the dogs they'll consider for a spot, and so I've got work to do in filling out a questionnaire and finding a pretty picture of the two of us. This is the picture I've selected, and hopefully it is a seller!!

Tasha and Me

And lastly, in relation to the wonderful business card being made for me, I had to use a flat white background...and my new LED portable lights that I'll be using at the venue made such great photos. Some could use some brightening still, but they look lovely.

The real trick?

I discovered this FASCINATING online photo uploader called Picnik which you can use to edit your photos. It has auto-fix options which work WONDERS! I have amazing photos now for my shop. So beautiful, I just have to show them off!

And don't forget, these lovelies are ALL going to the venue this weekend where hundreds of people will be pawing and drooling over singers and crafters, so if there is anything you have had your eye on - you better buy it this week before the 11th. Who knows if it will be coming back home with me!

 Caged Song Bird - Victorian Style Red Lucite Bell Floral Design Pocket Watch Necklace

by

Sahetah's Jewelry

Doesn't that image look lovely? I got lucky here with the lighting. I used two LED lights and sometimes they were hard to position, and at first I thought it was too bright...but nope, it looks AMAZING!


That's all for now. It's time to get back to work and prepare for that venue and make more listings!

Fighting the negative forces!

Do you ever have a day that is determined to bring you down? Did it feel like everything you tried to do, was rebuffed by sudden and strange events that all seemed to happen coincidentally on the same day? I know I sure did, and no matter my determination to move forward and not let my smile turn upside down - it felt like the world was against me.

 "A Sad Little One Pinback Badge" by Irobinson

  Yesterday felt like 'mission impossible' just to get on through the day peacefully and unscathed. It started with much drama. It was like a  Play with terrible acting with a Director who didn't ensure the facts were correct. Regardless, you pretend that you have bought the entire story they try to sell you, and perhaps during that drama episode you might have just lost your head and completely by accident too!

"Duke Evan and Friend" by MealyMonster

Despite the terrible acting, it may have received one thumb up for moving the audience to tears!

Tears of frustration to be precise!

However I had to move on. I went out on the town to erase that bad drama from my head. I was verbally pushed out of the door for my 'better health', but I had some reservations on whether or not I should go. It wasn't a sunny day...in fact it had been raining for 3 days and the sky was dark and gloomy threatening to rain more on us over-saturated folks. 

The weather was down right depressing.

"Big Juicy Tears of Blood and Pain No.3" By Oddball Art Co

But I am a big girl at 5'1 and decided to go out anyways. After all, I needed to make an important run to my supply shop and work on a custom Bridal necklace. I wasn't about to let a little rain or drama stand in my way. It was going to take much more than that.

Well the day started out bad, and I should have taken the hint, but apparently I did not.

The first bus I hop into seems fine and I get myself a comfy seat and relax to some amazing music by Tarja Turunen. As we come to the first of two bus terminals, several bus operators suddenly decide to congregate outside of the bus around the tires for some tea I assume. They stand and chat some lovely conversation while we sit inside and twiddle our thumbs.

Next thing I know, I can smell this strange smell...

 "Caution Stinky Load" - Baby Onesie By Sassysamz

Then I realize its gas and its all through the bus.

Everyone is being quickly ushered off the bus and onto an itty bitty bus to the city.

I normally wouldn't mind but the new bus can only hold half the people on the previous bus, and so we are squished like pickles in a jar.

Here I am thinking 'man this is turning into quite a day', but is it over yet? Of course not! :P

cheezburger.com

The subway ride home ended up being eventful too. Apparently the first car of the train I was riding was malfunctioning and so the conductor was trying to evacuate the first car. Funny enough I think I was riding in the same train earlier, and I was sitting in the first car. I noticed as we came to Union station that the car was 'grinding' on the tracks which as never happened before. It felt like it was coming off the track in fact, which made everyone a bit nervous.

Wow, a second evacuation. How ironic.

But it gets better. The night isn't over yet. Far far far from it!

The bus ride home was more relaxing. All up until we reach the terminal where the bus briefly pauses. The driver announces she is having technical difficulties...and guess what?

We have to evacuate the bus!

My legs are throbbing in pain, and the world today obviously hates me and makes me want to do this-

 

"Perfect Print" By Aephemera

How can all of that possibly come to be? How is it that multiple times in one day similar events occur at different times in different areas and to the same person? Am I stuck in the Matrix and the Matrix is repeating itself? Should I be trying to find some blue and red pills? Hopefully I remember which one I shouldn't take because I really don't feel like having my eyes burned out (if you never watched the Matrix, Neo gets his eyes burned and scared over at the end of the last movie- spoiler).

I know you can't believe me as you read this! How can it be possible?