Long Time No See

I know! I haven't posted in a long time, I sowy T_T



I think that with working on my novel, school, my job and the Etsy shop I've become a little jaded. New ideas for jewelry have been a little hard for me to come by lately and I'm thinking that those may have something to do with it. That or my semi-laziness -_- *sigh* Plus it's hard when you get excited about your new stuff and no one else does :(

BUT

The latest items I've posted were really neat though! The Vampire's Coffin necklace (shown above) was really fun to make - the fangs were a bit of a pain to sculpt but I really like how it turned out.






One of my other latest items was The Skull and the Bat necklace - super cool! I love how the white paint made everything else POP!



I would really like to start getting away from using images on my items. I just feel like it's time to expand and handpainting and sculpting sounds like fun. Perhaps freehanding some pendant shapes or splatter paint would be cool!! What do you guys think?

In other news - like movie news - I saw HP6! Woo hoo! Glad that we didn't have to wait any longer! I laughed alot and I cried. I thought it was very good and I give it two thumbs up but I've heard mixed reviews on it. I guess a lot fans think that it's the best one in the series so far, while others think it's the worst. There were just a few things that disappointed me like the whole "Battle" scene at the Weasley's, where exactly did that come from? While they added that in, they left out the "fight" at Hogwarts. The only thing that happened there was that Bellatrix ran along one of the tables and destroyed the china. O_o

All around I really did like it. The romantic relationship between Hermione and Ron finally began it's establishment. I will be glad when it's fully expressed in the seventh film. Ginny and Harry began their onscreen relationship as well which was adorable. The scenes with Harry and Hermione were great. The way they comforted each other as best friends was adorable and I thought it had been a long time coming for those moments, as simple as they were.

Ron playing Quidditch was great, Lavender's obsession with Ron was hilarious, and the special effects were brilliant!

So now that I've talked about the wizarding world, what about New Moon?!! Who else has been drooling over this pic of Jake and Bella?! *arwooo!*

Although I do have one complaint that my good friend Shielou agrees with me on, WHY DOES KSTEW LOOK BORED?! Her face looks like she's watching the grass grow! HELLO? Hot werewolf in the car!! Geeze :P


I'll be very excited to see New Moon when it comes out!! Right now the preview is a bit disappointing and there were a few things that I'm a little leery of such as the realistic feel of the werewolves, but time will tell. I do wish that Soloman Trimble and Krys Ivory were reprising their rolls as Sam and Embry. For me they embodied the overal look, feel and youth of Sam and Embry that I had in my head while reading the series, but out of fairness the GQ-looking actors should be given a chance :P We were all scared that Taylor wouldn't be back as Jacob so at least our wish was granted for that, right? ;)


By the way, I swear I'm going through a second or third . . . maybe fourth childhood! I'm obsessed with having all of my favorite Disney movies on DVD! I have Pocahontas, The Lion King, Hercules, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, The Fox and the Hound, The Rescuers, An American Tail, but I'm missing The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and A LOT of others! lol. This whole Disney vault thing is UNFAIR! haha.


Currently watching:

How do you work this thing?

So I'm still trying to get used to this blog thing, lol. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out websites and such but for some reason I haven't figured out how to converse with people on here, is there a way?

I've figured out the whole comment thing, but there doesn't seem to be a way to respond to a person's comment T_T (besides commenting after theirs) Or am I just being technologically impaired? lol

Thanks to Ally and Andi for your sweet comments! I appreciate you stopping by ^_^

Currently I'm working on some brand new items that I've never done anything like before and I'm so excited! I don't know if they will go over well, but nothing really seems to be selling at this point in time because the economy is in the toytee -_- Anywoser, if you're just curious you can stop by my etsy shop and check them out when I list (2 of them will be tomorrow if I can manage to get moving early enough in the moring). http://www.sweetgal981.etsy.com/ ^_^


Laina

New Items & New Policies

When I was younger I used to cut up pictures of clothes in magazines and put them together with other things and glue them on a page in a notedbook that I made. I would then draw models in on some of them or outfits of my own creation occasionally. I sort of used that thinking when I came up with my new Undergarments Line! I was originally thinking I just wanted to do corsets but then I thought, why stop there? What about cute undies too?! So I left it a bit more broad.

The first corset that I made is "The Temptress!" I LOVE how it turned out - just FAB! In the photos it looked a little orange but the lighting in the hotel bathroom was strange. That's a whole other story! My cousin and I went to see Nickelback, Seether and Saving Abel in Moline, IL. I was only looking forward to seeing Seether and I actually caught one of their drumsticks! ROCK ON! Anyways . . .

(I took my beading supplies with me but I didn't get as many done as I hoped. Sitting on the bed beading was not that comfy -_-)

The second corset that I made was the "French Maid Corset." I was originally going to call this the "Business Woman," but I found that after I added the bow it didn't make it look so business-like. Perhaps if I had put a different bow on it or if I had painted pinstripes on it, it would have been more fitting. Nonetheless I thought it looked RAD! ~_^

(I was also fortunate enough to find some super cool corset charms just before I finished this one so I thought, what the heck?)

And I actually did do a pair of undies! The "Punk Rockers Underpants," I think they turned out to be uber cool. I really like the body jewelry look of the jump rings and silver beads that I put on here - they just give the pendant something totally unique ☠

Now for the next topic at hand, I haven't totally re-vamped my Shop Policies but I gave them a HUGE update. I now have pretty much everything that I can think of in there that anyone might have questions about. Like it says on the front page of my shop (http://www.sweetgal981.esty.com/) I really racked my brain to think of a bunch of questions. Some are based on questions that people have asked me, some are questions that I get often, and some are based on issues that haven't even happened yet *knock on wood*. Just to give you all a second place to review these policies, let's list them, shall we? ~_^ This isn't how they apear on my Policies page, this is more of a short and sweetened version, just for time's sake and organization's sake as well.

1) I don't take payments. You have the option of reserving an item for a $10 reservation fee (which knocks the first $10 off of your item so the listing price will decrease by that amount). I will reserve an existing item for 2 weeks, after that if it is not purchased it will no longer be reserved and the $10 will not be returned. You'd think that it would be obvious that if an item is on hold for you, you should purchase it within that time frame but I've waited over a month for a couple people who never purchased the item that they asked me to reserve for them and I just stopped hearing from them altogether - lameo!

2) My necklaces are durable but not invincible ^_^. I've been selling my necklaces for over a year now (using the same basic materials) and no one has had any issues with them breaking or the beading coming apart. I've literally thrown my pendants at the cement floor in our basement and across the room at the floor and it didn't even phase them! You may recall my post a while ago with Brandi's custom Fall Out Boy Bat necklace?

(I was bound and deterined to break one of those wing tips off of that necklace before I even put the image on but none of them ever budged! I even told her this before I listed it ~_^)

3) Cleaning - I recommend using a slightly damp cloth to wipe off anything that gets on the front of the pendants. NEVER submerse them in water, bathe, or swim with one of my necklaces on! THE HORROR! *blood curdling scream*. Most of this is common sense but some of us out there may have lost our commons, teehee =)

4) I can always take a custom order! I may not have the same charms or style of chain that you saw on a different necklace (my supplies aren't endless) but most of my items I can recreate. Even when working on a request for a past item I try to do something a little bit different, so that the necklace was made specifically for you ^_^ After all, isn't that the whole point to handmade items? Take this Mario necklace for instance. The first one I made just to put in my shop, the second was a request for that necklace that I changed up a bit:

4) I don't sell my pendants individually.

5) I will do collaboration pieces with other etsy members! I just did a collab piece with Nicole at http://www.candyrave.etsy.com/! And Shielou (http://www.shielou.etsy.com/) and I have discussed doing a piece together as well, but we're not sure when or what it will be ^_^

6) I will make changes to things listed in my shop IF you want something minor done. For example if you want a heart charm instead of a star that's no problem - if it's really that big of a deal to you :P. This DOES NOT apply to sale items though - they're already marked down so low I'm not about to redo something ^_^

Like I said my Shop Policies page covers A LOT of stuff! If you're interested in purchasing one of my items, of if you already have, please at least give them a once-over ~_^

Hats off!
Laina

Stories of Fantasy

Alright, so there's something that I have been wanting to share for a long, long time:

One of the things that most people don't know about me, heck I'm not sure if anyone knows all of this about me, is that I keep stories in my head. Currently I have a running total of 3 in my head which one day I would love to complete as novels. One of which I have actually started writing down.

Not only that, but I truly have the brain of a director. Ever since I was a kid I would picture scenes with my favorite celebrities or made-up characters and there would be specific details of what would occur in those scenes, etc. I specifically recall the moment where I first realized this - it was way back in elementary school in maybe 3rd or 4th grade. I was sitting in music class and I was just staring out the window envisioning that I was a kid in a movie who was longingly staring out the window in anticipation for recess. I remember this because the teacher got mad at me because she thought I wasn't paying attention. Well . . . technically I wasn't, but I was still listening to what she was saying . . . kind of. Most kids go through this phase of pretending where they either have an imaginary friend, they create games, or they create their own little world, etc. Well I think it's safe to say that I never grew out of that . . . at all.

Like I said I have three stories running amok in my head. Three really good ones that I like. The only problem is that I have only bits and pieces of them. It's weird because I picture scenes in my head in odd places. Sometimes I will be driving and think of a new scene or my brain will enhance one and add details that I didn't think of the first time. Or I will be shopping for something at a store and think of a new part. Mostly my ideas come to me when I'm running. My parents have a treadmill that I absolutely adore because I can just put my headphones on and daydream.

The other weird aspect is that I have to envision a scene before I write it. Mostly I do this by sleeping, I know weird right?! The director in my head kicks in when I lay down to go to sleep and I will play the scenes in my head, kind of like I'm reviewing them. This is why it takes me a LONG time to fall asleep, but I wouldn't have it any other way :D. This is also a major reason why it takes me so long to write, I like to plan an entire scene out and I have to have all of the details accounted for and I have to "see" it before I put it into writing. I know . . . I'm really, really weird! But this has always been a natural way of thinking about these Fantasy Stories of mine. Up until this last year I hadn't really thought to write them down and create full-fledged storylines. I kind of always thought that these scenes and characters were things that I just had to deal with, like a tick. But when I learned that Stephenie Meyer based Twilight on a dream that she had, and that she is just hoping to have the chance to write all of the stories in her head, something in me snapped into place. For once in my life I was proud of what goes on in my head and I wasn't trying to block it out or disregard it as a little fantasy. And that's when I decided that I would dedicate myself to writing them down to share with others, even if it takes me years to finish! *Epic moment*

Hopefully this has made some sort of sense ^_^ Now you know the meaning behind the title of this blog :) Sort of an abrupt ending but I need to get some sleep and it will take me a while to actually fall asleep, now you know why ~_^

Laina

Today I decided I wanted to write a bit about my jewelry over on etsy ^_^ I like to talk about my custom orders and such so why not do it here? FIRST I must thank Shielou for the idea - she posts about her jewelry once a week and I find it entertaining to read :D

I recently sold a few necklaces that I thought I was never going to sell. My Pretty in Pink Stitches and my Edward's Golden Eyes necklace! I love how both of those turned out but they've been sitting in my shop for so long I was thinking that I was going to be buried with them, but then Super Brandi showed up! Total sweetheart! She also wanted a custom order that I've always had in the back of my mind to do but I wasn't really sure if it would go over well or not. She wanted a necklace featuring Jeff Dunham!! For those of you who haven't heard of him, he's a ventriloquist who has several characters in his show. Brandi's favorite (and mine) is Peanut, a little purple goofball with lime green hair :D

So when Brandi asked me to use the photo below I was stoked to do it! She'll be going to see him next month and wanted to have something eye-catching and special with alot of green and purple!

I think I accomplished that! This turned out to be awesome!

Alternating the purple chain with the green chain on the side of the necklace worked really well! I wasn't too sure if it was going to because sometimes the chain likes to be stubborn and twist in funky ways but those two styles worked when put together ~_^ I also love the green paint on the pendant. It's not really a neon green, it's more of a minty green, but it's really pretty and makes Jeff and Peanut stand out! Brandi is going to have a great time when she goes to see him! Luckily Jeff made it here to the theater before the flood came and he was totally great! ^_^

My next order is one for snewbear. It's for her daughter who is actually going to meet Kellan Lutz!! So she wanted to have something with him as her favorite Cullen. She wanted a necklace similar to EmmettFanGirl's but in black and green instead of black and red. Totally cool! And the back is going to be blank so that he can sign it! ROCK ON! hehe. I can't wait to finish it, although I'm going to have to buy batteries for my camera before then. It died last night after I uploaded Brandi's photos and naturally I don't have any more in the house -_-

So until then, hats off!

Laina

School and Snow Don't Mix

Currently I am sitting at home in my pajamas watching the snow continue to fall outside the window -_- Today was supposed to be the first day of the semester but I think we've all come to the conclusion that school and snow don't mix. I did however, make it to my first class before it was cancelled so at least I've been to one of out 5 of them so far.

All was not lost though - I came home to find the mail truck in the driveway. That poor guy. I swear he has a hate group against me for all the packages I get *sad puppy face*. I discovered a very large one waiting for me just inside the door (my Mom had brought it in) and low and behold it was my brand new shiny black violin!! Ahh it's so pretty :) Now I just need to figure out how to play it O_o. I know how to play guitar (although I'm certainly nothing spectacular) and I've been wanting to learn how to play the violin for a while now. Back when I was a kid my Mom wanted to put me in either dance lessons or violin lessons. Being a complete goofball I chose dance. Mom, why did you listen to me then? Well, years later I've changed my mind. SO I'm trying to decide if I want to either try to get the basics down on my own or if I want to take lessons. I could call on my no-longer guitar teacher and see if he knows anyone in the biz (hehe I just wanted to say that).

Luckily for me I know who I can go to for advice! Believe it or not my favorite band, HURT, actually takes the time to talk to their fans, considering this and the fact that the EXTREMELY talented lead singer J. Loren has been playing violin since the tender age of 8 (I asked him myself :D) I figured I would drop him a message and see if he has any pointers for me. By the way the apallingly talented crafter Shielou is making me a charm of the hottie musician!! I can't wait to drool over it . . . *cough* I mean get it in the mail! Check out her shop at http://www.shielou.etsy.com/!

I'll have to include some photos of my perdy fiddle later but for right now it's getting used to the temperature of the house and I don't really want to mess with it after nearly 10 days of traveling to my house in the below zero temperatures ^_^

Hats off!
Laina

Welcome!

Hi and Welcome to my blog!

This is a brand new thing to me, apart from having a blog on myspace (which hasn't been updated in who knows how long) I have never done one of these, so you'll have to bear with my newbie self ;)

First and foremost my name is Laina. Currently I am 19 years of age and I am a fulltime student. I have a part time job that sucks the social life out of me, but hey, what can you do? I make jewelry over at the evergrowing Etsy.com, you can find my shop at http://www.sweetgal981.etsy.com/.

I am really excited to be starting a blog, hopefully it will be around for years to come!


Laina