slymagpie

Fabulous Contest At House of Gems!

2009-07-28T23:46:00.003-04:00

Bead Sluts Need Apply! Find it here: http://www.houseofgems.com/?from=newsletter

Coming Soon to an Earlobe Near You...

2008-08-05T23:11:00.003-04:00

These are a complete departure from what I usually create. I wanted something sleek and leafy and ended up with these. I made almost every bit of these from the earwires, to the leaf drops to the bead wraps. I've been planning entire outfits around them for a week! :)

See Sly Magpie for more info, or contact me at slymagpie@yahoo.com

Katie's Wedding Jewelry

2008-08-03T12:26:00.002-04:00

I hate it when I'm in a wedding and have spent hundreds of dollars on things like plane tickets, a boring one-time-use dress, and gifts for 3 showers only to get something the bride found on clearance at Target as a bridesmaid gift. Nice, Margaret. Ungrateful much? Ah well. I've been in a lot of weddings. (and have made away with some gifts that I totally loved...thanks Debbie!)

A fabulous friend of mine has commissioned me to make her ladies jewelry for the wedding that they won't want to throw away a couple of hours into the reception (after all of that wine and sugar gets the best of them). So, here we are. There will be necklaces to match. These are made of sterling silver, Jet Black glass beads and Swarovski Crystals. The headpins and earwires were all made by hand.

These will sell for $30 in my Etsy shop in the near future. If you don't see them quite, yet, contact me at slymagpie@yahoo.com. Color is fully customizable.

Cheers! :)

What's Hot at Sly Magpie Jewelry?

2008-07-17T19:30:00.004-04:00

He Loves Me Ring

Custom Size
Carnelian Petals
Turquoise Center
Due to the nature of the semi-precious gemstone petals, each ring is unique

For more original, handmade jewelry, visit Sly Magpie...

New Trick for Soothing a Little Screamer

2008-07-07T21:39:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I've tried to save the general public from what was known in our house as "grump'o'clock." For us, it was basically the first six months of our son's life. He cried. He cried a lot. It wasn't colic, he was perfectly fine. He was just very errrr...expressive.

Some nights the only thing that would save our eardrums was putting him in his bouncer and turning on the hairdryer. We would take turns sitting with him in the bathroom in the dark until he would settle down. He's almost two now and is the sweetest funniest most vivacious kid I know. So, if you're still wading through the sleeplessness, the headaches and frustration, it will get better. You really will look back and laugh. Uncomfortably, for a while, but nonetheless, you'll laugh.

If I had found this website, I may not have burned out two hairdryers. Baby-to-Sleep.com is so clever it actually made me laugh out loud! It's a site that is nothing but the sounds of rain and thunder with both a pause and a play button. Sound silly? Trust me, when your time comes, you'll call it genius. And baby will call it...well, nothing. Because he'll be asleep.

Looking For More Sparkle?

2008-06-15T11:59:00.006-04:00

I'm a big fan of Capitola Girl, Susan's blog. Not only is she a talented artist herself, but she makes a point to find and feature other independent jewelry designers. Check it out on Saturdays for her special feature aptly titled, "Saturday Sparkle." Every week, you'll find a brand new artist and fresh jewelry designs.

Check out her blog here!

Check out Susan's own work:

The Beautiful Work of My First Student!

2008-05-13T10:03:00.003-04:00

I just had to share the amazing job my first Helping Handmade student did on her first project! The smaller pair were made with my instruction, and the sparkling blue pair was her first venture on her own! I'd like to think it was all in her fabulous lesson, but I think Carolyn clearly has a talent all her own!

I'll bet you do, too! Sign up for my class at Helping Handmade. You can learn something new and part of your tuition will be donated to an environmental charity! Read more about that here.

I won a contest!

2008-05-08T11:37:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love the simplicity in the Triple Treat Earrings by Dancing Monkey! Check out what the artist herself has to say about them:

"These earrings are an updated classic of the simple pearl earrings. Three luminous white fresh water pearls are stacked one upon the other on wire wrapped headpins. They dangle from hand formed, oxidized fine silver French ear wires. These earrings are simple and elegant. You can wear them with your favorite jeans or dress them up for a night out on the town."

Heartbroken that you didn't win? Get your own pair here! And while you're there, check out these beautiful and fashion forward pieces...

Happy Birthday to me...

2008-04-29T14:09:00.000-04:00

and Brandy, final hottie on the right there. Birthdays rule. Especially when celebrated with friends that have gone skinny dipping with you and can still look you in the eye. Cheers to my girls!

(Debbie, Me, Cassie and Brandy)

New Spring Jewelry!

2008-04-27T13:51:00.007-04:00

Sea Change

...and don't forget about the Mother's Day Sale! Free gift wrap and gift message included!

Something Old is New

2008-04-17T23:26:00.003-04:00

Here it finally is! The first piece of my new Vintage Cuff collection that I had expected to debut just after Christmas. Ha! I had a tough time finding an acceptable clasp, but this one is perfect. Really easy to put on and makes me think of Victorian iron work. Love it. This bracelet is one of a kind. It is made with a vintage belt buckle on a velvet cuff. The cuff has a soft velvet gather in the middle of the buckle. This was made in a size 6 3/4, but I can alter it to any size.

Enjoy your weekend! I'm off to celebrate my (any my nephew's) birthday this weekend. Cake! Yes....

Mother's Day Sale!

2008-04-15T18:34:00.006-04:00

My Son and My Mom

I didn't know how much I needed to thank my mother until I had a kid of my own. She had three. That should make for much celebration, no? So, I'm offering a 15% discount on every piece of jewelry at Sly Magpie through Mother's Day. Beautiful rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. And they all arrive in lovely gift wrap.

Make your selections, and checkout, but wait for a revised invoice to pay. It will be adjusted with the discount.

Danny Boy Always Brings Tears To My Eyes

2008-04-05T11:46:00.001-04:00

...But this time, they were tears of laughter! Enjoy!

Watermelon Tourmaline

2008-03-21T18:30:00.003-04:00

So I'm really for real going to list this bracelet tonight! Ha! If you'll recall the last two are still awaiting proper photographs. Unfortunately for them, I finished this watermelon t0urmaline bracelet and immediately ran out in the sunshine to photograph it. Ah well, it's only supposed to rain for the next week or so... :/

The faceted nuggets on this bracelet range from a deep, almost black green to a rock candy like pink, so pretty! It's hard to believe these are all the same stone. It's finished with a magnetic clasp so shiny, I couldn't get a photograph of it without capturing my reflection.

Find it listed on my site, Sly Magpie by tomorrow morning! $30

Sleep, Baby, Sleep!

2008-03-18T20:04:00.003-04:00

Do you love the smell of lavender? Are you sure? If your lavender love comes from smelling mass market bedtime bubbles you may not even know what lavender really smells like! Next time you're at a garden center, pinch a petal and see...

I've been searching for a gentle bubble bath for the little man. He actually had a urinary tract infection at only a few months old, so I'm very picky. Synthetic fragrance will not do, nor will parabens or animal testing. That really limits your choices!

I actually found California Baby's Calming Aromatherapy Bubble Bath at Target, it was by far the most expensive bubble bath, but baby loves bubbles. The scent is so wonderful! It's a made with Lavender and Chamomile and has absolutely no artificial ingredients. You have to work a little harder for the bubbles, but it's not a big deal. How effective is this for calming? Hell, I don't know. My son is a banshee pretty much 24/7. But he sure likes bubbles. Baby is happy, Mommy is happy. And we smell like a meadow of wildflowers...yesssssssss.

What's at SlyMagpie Now?

2008-03-10T20:17:00.003-04:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
slymagpie.etsy.com

Like My Work? Take My Class!

2008-03-05T21:23:00.005-05:00

Beginning on March 24th, I'll be offering jewelry making classes on Helping Handmade. Pictured above is one of the projects from my class. Pretty cool, eh? There will be full instructions and supplies to make two beautiful pairs of earrings. You can totally do it, I promise! My directions are VERY specific and I'll be available in the forum to answer any questions you have along the way. Sign up here!

You may also like to check out the other classes being offered. There is currently a cross stitch class, as well as a Brazilian Embroidery class, with more classes coming soon!

New This Week!

2008-03-04T22:01:00.004-05:00

This is a smaller version of the Morning Bird necklace. The swallow is only a little more than an inch across and the jet crystals are a teeny 2mm. I love it! It's so delicate. I'll be listing it as soon as I can think of a name for it.

Got any suggestions??? :)

I still haven't gotten pictures of last week's new item that make me happy. Could I BE any pickier???

You Don't Have to be a Mama to be a Posh Mama!

2008-02-26T18:31:00.002-05:00

You may be wondering wondering what all of the little bits around my blog regarding Posh Mama are about. I have been a member there since September and I admit I am absolutely obsessed. To be honest, I am not one to hang around social networks, but Posh Mama has a niche of its own that I simply cannot pry myself away from! I'm there multiple times every day.

I first joined because I ran across the site and a beautiful Tiffany necklace was being given away. Yep. Tiffany. There are numerous giveaways at any given moment, and I mean good ones!

I don't know how she does it, but Posh Mama has gathered the kindest group of ladies you could imagine. The vibe there is just so friendly! Never catty, just women supporting each other in life, independent business and family. If you are growing an independent business, you must join. You can learn a lot from these ladies. Conversely, if you love independent art and boutiques, you will find the best and most original.

Come see my profile, I'll be happy to show you around!

Posh Mama is an online magazine and social network exclusively for women from all around the world. The network is a supportive, interactive, and highly engaged community of Posh Mamas who share information on fashion, beauty, style, home interiors, art, book reviews, author interviews, fitness, nutrition, unique products for women, cool gadgets, high-tech toys and important product recalls. You don't have to be a "Mother" to be a "Posh Mama". Come hang out with me at www.poshmama.com.

Hurray for Boon!

2008-02-26T08:27:00.005-05:00

And here we are on Tuesday. Going forward, I will feature great things for your little one every Tuesday. Look for clothes, toys, and safety products. Some I've found, and some we own. I'll make sure you know which is which!

If you read my column on Posh Mama, you may remember some time ago when I wrote about a wonderful product I wanted from Boon. I wrote about Boon's Flo, which I thought would be a stylish way protect your little one from the evil, poky water spout. We finally ordered one and while I loved the look and features(dispenses bubble bath, deflects water and "softens" spout) it didn't work for us. Our tub spout is completely smooth and it seems that you need the little shower-bath toggle on top to hold it on. It just slid right off of ours. Nonetheless, I loved it and as I had immediately recycled the box and paperwork, I kept it. Not long after I received the Flo, I got an e-mail from Boon asking how we'd liked the product. I love to share my opinion, so I told them about my problem. Not only were they very quick to respond to my concern, they were exceptionally gracious. Only a day after I completed the survey, they sent me a very polite e-mail apologizing for the misunderstanding and offered to send me their Bath Goods for free. This kind of customer service is sadly so rare. Day after day we are confronted with manufacturers who are unconcerned about the safety of their products and put our babies at risk. Thank you, Boon for being so conscientious!

Needless to say, the little man LOVES the new bath toys. The shapes and colors are very tactile and they have stood up very well to his gnawing. I even love looking at them,as they have a very retro-modern appeal. The poofs are nice and soft and the little balls fit perfectly in his hands. I would definitely recommend the Boon Bath Goods!

New This Week

2008-02-25T00:23:00.002-05:00

To preserve my personal sanity, I'm going to add some semblance of order to my posts! I'll be debuting the new format day by day this week so stay tuned!

Every Sunday, I'll be sharing something that I will be listing during the upcoming week. For my first, I have a new pair of filigree earrings with faceted amethyst drops. The amethysts on this pair are especially gorgeous! Stay tuned for proper pictures and a chance to make these your own at Sly Magpie!

My Favorite Necklace EVER!

2008-02-19T22:11:00.003-05:00

Yet another beautiful vintage pendant from my mother's collection of bits. I still can't believe she actually gave me all of this stuff. I assume this one is made of brass and the stones are glass. Who knows? Maybe it's solid gold with little diamond accents... Either way, this one will definately stay in my collection!

AND the Winner Is...!

2008-02-17T16:00:00.004-05:00

MISS CHRISTY!

Check her out at Posh Mama on-line magazine!

Thank you so much to all who entered! I'll be getting in touch with Christy today (a bit late, eh?) to see what she would like! Sweeeeeet.

See? Valentine's Day doesn't have to suck.

Last Day to Enter Anti-Valentine's Day Contest!

2008-02-15T16:57:00.003-05:00

Remember that today is the last day to share your awful Valentine's Day story! The winner with the lousiest story will win a pair of posey earrings or a $10 Gift Certificate to slymagpie.

If you're feeling extra evil, go to pnut to check out this amazing pendant! Evil and CUTE!

Anti-Valentine's Day Contest!!!

2008-02-12T10:47:00.001-05:00

I want to hear about your worst Valentine's Day ever! So, I'm having a contest. The winner will can choose a pair of posey earrings (see this post!) or a $10 Gift Certificate to use at slymapgie.

Here is mine:

I had just started dating this guy in college. We'll call him Bill. Because, well, that was his name. That Valentine's Day was bitterly cold and I had a long walk across a snowy campus to get to one of my most hated class ever. Early American Literature. Although, I'm sure it was called something fancier. I just don't remember. Anyway, I was so sick, I was just about to die. I had a nasty case of bronchitus and had an essay test. I had been sick for so long, that I had not prepared in anyway and as I LOATHE stories about pioneers, had not listened in class. So, I just made something up and totally failed the test. Have you read Leatherstocking? You'd understand if you had. It's totally not about bondage. So, I turn in the essay, leave the classroom and new boyfriend, Bill is waiting with a huge and beautiful boquet of flowers. Very nice, yes, but I looked like crap and wanted to do nothing more than go home and go to bed. Instead he made me come back to his dorm room. When I got there, I see that he still has an 11x7 posed, framed portrait of himself and his ex front and center. Nice. AND laying out in plain view is a reciept for the flowers. Mine and hers. NIce. I showed him, though. I dated him for two more years.

Leave a comment, and I'll choose the poor Valentine with the "best" story at midnight on Margaret-tine's Day, Feb 15th (check out PoshMama.com for that story). Check back on Feb 16th to see if you're the winner!