Meet the Maker is back and it's better! We are offering online interviews now.

 

Hi Friends! How are you? Sorry that it has been another stretch of time since my last blog post. All that is happening in the world has me pretty unmotivated beyond trying to take care of my family and survive. But I really want to help my maker friends out.  So here I am trying to do maker interviews again. And now we will be offering a vlog interview as well!!!! I am so excited about this because it allows you the artist to shine and share your products. 

To start off our return to this blog series I interviewed my sweet friend Tricia from Pink Poodle Jewelry Studio. So without further ado let's get on with the blog and meet this week's maker!

Tricia has been all over the place with her husband for his work but she grew up in Pa and is back living just outside Williamsport. She has been crafting all her life. But it wasn't until her life long friend Gloria started teaching her how to make jewelry as a way of crafting while still sitting on the couch due to her chronic illness. It was here that she found her passion. She loves anything pink and the more sparkly the best. She also loves her two sweet dogs and those who have crossed the rainbow bridge. Hence the name Pink Poodle Studio. 

Tricia can make all sorts of beautiful jewelry but her most favorite are her statement pieces. They truly are gorgeously made with a mix of materials. To learn more about Tricia and her jewelry make sure you check out our vlog. 

You can find Tricia online at the following locations:

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PinkPoodleStudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinkPoodleJewelryStudio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pink_poodle_jewelry_studio/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQBQl-9CSzA_4wvk2VzP-Ew

Check out some of her favorite bead shops and use her affiliate links below!

Jesse James Beads

BeeBeeCraft

PandaHall

Beadaholique

Dollar Bead Box/bag

If you would like to be interviewed either here on our blog or on youtube, please comment below or message me. There is no cost to you other than your time. I do offer product reviews as well the only cost for these is a sample of your product and your time for the interview. My heart's desire is to try and share small shops so that those around the world can shop from you. We are all in this together... Stay safe and blessings. 

Repurposed Jewelry. My first Jewelry Refashion.

Hi, friends! How are you? Wow, it has been some time since I have posted. Sorry about that. Life has been very full and tough for our family. My husband started grad school this fall and we have been trying to balance life and caring for our kids with special needs.

One thing I have been thinking a lot about is my impact on the environment and fair trade, particularly where fashion and my business play into it. How can I do better? In what ways can I care for the environment and also for those in need?

In the past, our company, Mt Nittany Creations, has sold a box of handmade donated items to raise money for charity. The last two years we have given to Maya works, helping Guatemalan women and their children to be educated and find jobs. Going forward we hope to continue to give a percentage of our sales to groups like this.

In addition, we try to reuse shipping materials when we send out our products. One thing that I have recently become really excited about is repurposing old jewelry. One of my favorite blogs is Refashonista so I wanted to try a "refashion" of a jewelry piece. Thanks for all of your refashion inspiration Jillian.

Over the last several months, I have made some fun finds. In my most recent project, I got to use some of those pieces that I found.

So I found this really cool necklace, which I was almost tempted to just keep. I went at it with my pliers and separated some of the beads and chain and attached them onto a pretty ribbon with ribbon clips. 

I also added in a bead someone gave me for Christmas that I thought matched well and these adorable pink tassels from Jesse James Beads. 

What do you like to use to repurpose or refashion?



Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about our jewelry and Young Living Essential Oils. If you have a jewelry piece that you would like me to refashion send me an email.

Currently, we are donating two jewelry pieces to Auction for Aspen. Head over to Instagram and help them raise money to build a school in Africa. 

7 Ways to Care for your Jewelry in the Summer

Hi friends! My name is Amber and I am the founder and one of the creators at Mt Nittany Creations. We are a family owned business with my mom, husband, my children and myself adding to our creations. Come check us out on ETSY. Here is an article I wrote as a collaboration with Two A Jewelry. 

7 ways to Care for Your Jewelry in the Summer.

It is that time of year again, the sun is out, the temperatures are up, kids are home from school, its summer. Meaning you will be heading to the beach or the pool, taking a nice long jog, and spending more time outside in general. You want to wear some of your adorable new jewelry pieces that match that new swimsuit of yours or to a beach wedding. I say go for it. But how do you care for your jewelry as you enjoy this season?

• Be aware of exposing your jewelry to water. 

Certain materials that jewelry is made of does not react well to water. Anything plated, copper, leather, ferrous materials such as Iron and steel, and rose gold (which contains copper) can be affected by exposure to water. Over time they can tarnish and possibly rust. So its best to limit their exposure to water. Solid precious metals – gold, silver, platinum, tungsten, titanium, etc, will be unaffected. Remember if you do expose your jewelry to wipe clean and dry it off.  

• Be aware of cold water temperatures.

We may forget that jumping into the pool, lake, river or ocean that the water is cold which can shrink our hands and toes. Those precious fitted rings will become loose. So you may want to leave your engagement ring or family heirloom at home. As to not run the risk of losing them. 

• Be aware of hot outdoor temperatures.

Just like cold water shrinks body parts, exposure to heat swells our body parts. So you may want to remove any fitted jewelry on especially hot days or when you are exercising in the heat as to not have your jewelry cut off any circulation or get stuck. Sweat can also cause tarnishing for jewelry that is plated and silver.  

• Be aware of the elements at the beach.

I love the beach as much as the next person but sand and salt can do harm to your jewelry. The best kinds of jewelry to wear to the beach should be made from solid precious metals  (gold, platinum, tungsten, titanium, etc,) these metals will be unaffected. Wearing plated items can result in sand abrasion as well as tarnishing from the water and salt. As for stones and gems, it is best to wear harder ones which are less likely to scratch. Salt can have long term effects on jewelry especially those made of ferrous materials ( iron and steel), copper, rose gold, wood, coral, and turquoise. Wood, coral, and turquoise are absorbent materials and can absorb the salt and rot over time. 

• Be aware of the chemicals in the pool. 

Just like the water, temperature, salt and sand can cause damage to some of your jewelry so can the chemicals they use in the pool. If you want to wear jewelry in the pool avoid gold and platinum. Chlorine can also remove the finish and polish on gemstones.  

• Be aware of lotions.

We all use various lotions in the summer to enhance our tan and or to protect ourselves from the suns harmful rays. These lotions can affect your jewelry in a minor way. Over time it can cause some discoloration in your metal jewelry but can really affect strung jewelry so it is best to avoid exposure to these pieces.

• Be aware of where you store your jewelry.

Placing your jewelry in a sealed plastic bag can cause any chemicals that your pieces have been exposed to, to begin to tarnish or corrode. Always clean your jewelry off and place it in a breathable type of bag or container. 

So now that you are aware of how to care for your jewelry in the summer you can accessorize that new bathing suit or be ready for your friend's beach wedding. Just remember that solid precious metals are the best options.

You can find Mt Nittany Creations Online at the following locations:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mtnittanycreations

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mtnittanycreations

Twitter: https://twitter.com/scottaenator

Etsy: mtnittanycreations.etsy.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.come/scottaenator

Bibliography: 

Neecy. “7 Tips for Wearing Jewelry to the Beach…”. 

https://jewelry.allwomenstalk.com/tips-for-wearing-jewelry-to-the-beach. 9, June 2018.

“Dos and dont's of Wearing Leather Jewelry.” Orange Bridge Supply Co, 14 Feb. 2018. https://orangebridgesupply.com/blogs/news/dos-and-donts-of-wearing-leather-bracelets . 9 June 2018.

Volandes, Stellene. “21 Reasons to Wear Beach Jewelry” 30 July 2014. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelry-and-watches/g813/beach-jewelry/?slide=1 . 9 June 2018.

“The Do’s and Don’ts of Wearing Your Jewelry to the Beach.” https://www.stoneandstrand.com/blogs/blog-list/the-do-s-don-ts-of-wearing-your-jewelry-to-the-beach . 9 June 2018.

Akhtarzad, Nicole. “The Only Jewelry You Should Wear to the Beach.” 31 July 2016. https://www.whowhatwear.com/best-jewelry-for-the-beach/slide2 . 9 June 2018.

Vanden Houten, Jessica. “10 Jewelry Safety Tips to Avoid Damage to Your Jewelry.” 15 June 2016. https://info.jewelersmutual.com/the-jewelry-box/10-jewelry-safety-tips-to-avoid-a-bummer-summer . 9 June 2018.

Upcoming events:

• May 18 For Moms By Moms spring event at The Friends school in State College, PA 10-3pm 

• May 22 Baby and Kids online oils class FB

• May 30 Intro to Oils Class FB class

• June 1 Heart of Lewisburg Summer Kick off Craft Fair Lewisburg, PA 9-4pm

• June 15 Ambler Arts Fest Ambler, PA

Mt Nittany Creations turns Two today!!

Hi friends! Thank you for helping make this possible. Your support over the last two years has meant so much to us. This week in order to celebrate we are having a giveaway on Instagram 9/24/18. In addition to this, we have our entire Etsy shop on sale for 20% off. For those on our newsletter list, there are some additional savings and surprises. If you would like to join please follow the link below.

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We also hope to have a giveaway on Facebook as well this week.
Next week is the start of October and my birthday week. So stay tuned for sales and giveaways next week to celebrate.
Needless to say, it is going to be an exciting couple weeks here at MNC.

Our display at our new location J. Rose Salons.

A new set of earrings!

All you PSU fans check this out!!

Each purchase receives a scratch-off ticket with a special discount to use in the future. 

Well, I hope that this finds you well and that you will join in with celebrating this awesome occasion with us.

My love and me.

Meet the Maker: Tran from Shards of Tears Jewelry

Hi friends. How are you? I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted. Life seems to have taken over. January was wrought with busyness and illness. I only now feel like we are getting back on our feet and you throw in our oldest having eye surgery, meetings about our youngest going to Kindergarten, my in-laws coming to visit to help out with all of these appointments and trying to maintain a schedule with homeschooling for the two kids that are not involved in the craziness. Balance would be my word for last month.

I did choose my OLW, One Little Word, for the year and it is JOY. Boy has that been hard to live by this past month. I hope to focus more in on that as the year continues. I am just not sure how to yet. What is your OLW? I would love to hear about it and why you chose it. Please share below in the comments and/or email me. I chose mine because I would  ove to see more JOY in my life. To really bask in all the LORD has blessed me with and to share that with others. Our oldest seems to be recovering well and we have a lot of decisions to make regarding school particularly for a little guy and what will best serve him, where will he get the best services to help him to succeed with his schooling and autism.

But enough about me. I am so excited to try and get back into writing our Meet the Maker interviews. If you would like to be interviewed, please email me to inquire. We are always looking for new talent and shops to get to know and share about. So without further ado lets meet our maker for this week. Let's meet Tran from Shards of Tears Jewelry.

Where are you from?

Boston, MA

Where do you live now?

Still in the Boston area

How long have you been crafting?

Probably about 15 years.

Are there other types of crafting that you enjoy doing?

I enjoy other forms of jewelry making beyond what I have for sale, as well as 2D art.

Cool

What drew you to jewelry making or what inspired you?

My interest for jewelry started when I first got my ears pierced as a child. I developed my own style and taste as I grew older and started to make my own items when I noticed that stores did not carry items that closely matched my aesthetic.

Wow what a fun way to get into jewelry making.

When did you start selling online?

July 2017

And What drew you to sell online?

I wanted a source of income from home.

Where do you sell online?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShardsOfTears

Do you do any other work? Outside job, blog...

I am also a graphic designer (still in progress)https://trandl1995.wixsite.com/tranportfolio

Do you do your creating alone or with a partner or family member?

I work on my pieces alone with some background noise.

Cool

What hopes do you have for your business in the future?

I hope to have a steady income as I work from home and at my own pace.

This is a great dream.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made?

Probably a necklace that I made based on the keyblade One-Winged Angel https://www.khwiki.com/One-Winged_Angel), pictured, not for sale. I love how it turned out and the namesake of the pendant holds a special meaning to me.

This is cool.

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business?

Handmade items have a more special connotation to them than mass-produced items to. A handmade piece shows the creator's creativity and labor and one can consider the piece to have a part of the maker, as well. I think that is part of the appeal of buying handmade items along with supporting a small business.

I agree.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the blogosphere?

Thank you for taking the time to read this interview!

Thanks for sharing.

You can find Tran online and the following locations:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShardsOfTears
https://www.instagram.com/shardsoftearsjewelry/
https://www.facebook.com/ShardsOfTears/

Upcoming Events:

• #igmakersale February 9. All day Insta sale with other Instagram Small shops. Come check it out and follow the hashtag. Get some of those last minute Valentines gift for the special people in your life!

• Feb 10-11 Love for Heather Auction. Come join us as we help raise money for our friend Heather as she fights an awful disease.https://www.instagram.com/loveforheatherauction/
• Feb 7-14 free shipping on all purchase in our ETSY shop.https://www.etsy.com/shop/MtNittanyCreations

Meet the Maker: Jenna from Just Another Bracelet.

Happy Friday friends! How has your week been? We seem to be still getting healthier which is good. I had the opportunity to volunteer in my sons preschool class this week and that was a lot of fun. 

Being that it is Friday it is time for another Meet the Maker. Today's interview is with Jenna from Just Another Bracelet. Today I am going to let Jenna take over my blog and tell you about herself. Have a great weekend friends. Without further ado, let's meet Jenna. 

My name is Jenna and I'm the person behind Just.Another.Bracelet.
I'm from Rocky River, a suburb on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio.
After living abroad for a few years, I returned to my roots and am currently living in Lakewood, Ohio. It's another city that borders both where I grew up and CLE itself!

I've been into crafting for as long as I can remember. I've only been making bracelets with the purpose of selling them for almost a year. Apart from making friendship bracelets, I also do a lot of scrapbooking and photo collages!
I began making bracelets at summer camp when I was probably around 10 years old. They were something almost all the kids did and a great way to keep me occupied for long stretches of time...like rest periods at the pool. I was inspired to start Just.Another.Bracelet after my Peace Corps service in Peru. While in Peru I was invited to teach an artisan group my bracelet making techniques. The group thought that by adding friendship bracelets to their repertoire, they would be able to draw in more business. I was blown away by the participation of these women in my 2-day workshop (some traveled hours on foot to attend each day)! Apart from teaching the artisan group, I also made bracelets for my Peruvian friends...as gifts, as a way to remember me when I went back to the States, as a way for them to represent their favorite soccer team. I realized that for some of my friends their bracelet was so much more than just a bracelet. It was a connection to someone far away or represented a memory or a loved one who had passed. When I got back home I needed a way to make a little money while I was job hunting and Just.Another.Bracelet was born. I wanted to be able to share my bracelets with the world.

I think I started selling online in September or October of 2016. Because
I needed a forum to market my bracelets that was low cost.

For the future of my business, I'd like to hit 50 (or more!) sales by the end of the year on Etsy (I sell quite a few in person to friends of friends of friends and so on also). I'd also like to keep growing, adding new patterns and styles. I'm also in the planning stages of adding headbands which I think will be a really great addition to the shop!

My favorite piece is probably my Dreamcatcher Festival Cuff or maybe the charm bracelet that I made for myself...it has a charm that says "live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air."

For those looking into starting a small shop business remember to "Stick to it!! It's really hard to get started and stay motivated when you're not making a lot of sales or getting a lot of attention. But if it's something you love and it shows in your work, eventually the sales will come!"

As final thoughts, I'd just like to thank you for this opportunity and give a shoutout to the maker community at large. Everyone has been super supportive of my endeavor and I love being able to share my work with the world! And never be afraid to reach out to me about my work, or how I got started, or a custom piece, or whatever!

My Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustAnotherBracelet?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/just.another.bracelet/

Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/jab180/justanotherbracelet/

Upcoming Event:

 Nov 6-14 Lydia's Guild Holiday Craft show.

Doylestown, PA

Our blog contains affiliate links. If you click on them and possibly make a purchase you can help support our blog! Thanks in advance,

Meet the Maker: Anna Fortune from Beads for Seads

Hi, friends! How has your week been? Happy Friday! Hope this finds you well. We have been working hard on finishing up our homeschool year with putting together a portfolio and then having our evaluations on Thursday. Yay for summer being here.

What plans do you have for summer? Any craft projects you will be working on? If you would like on July 1-25, we will be having our 2nd Annual Christmas in July Crafting Challenge. Come join us here and on Facebook to participate.

I have the pleasure of introducing you to another great maker from our Follow Friday feature giveaway. Meet Anna Fortune from Beads for Seeds.

Anna was born in California and has lived in most states on the way to the east coast. She calls Wilmington NC home now. I have always wanted to be near the ocean and Wilmington is a beautiful little historic, coastal town. 

Anna tell us about your crafting experiences?I have been crafting in some form since I can remember. I would go gather scraps of wood and flowers, I tried making mud beads when I was little.

That is really interesting.
How did you end up in the jewelry business?
How I ended up making jewelry as a business is kind of funny. About 20 years ago I traded a vacuum ( a rainbow) for my sister and her husband's craft jewelry business, We were both pretty happy. I had put it on hold for a number of years with work and kids, but I always yearned to be doing it again. I have been blessed with the people in my life, and opportunities that have made this possible.
When did you start selling online?
Back when I had my first business, Internet was brand new, I just started selling online this time and it has been almost a year.
Selling online is such a great way to find community. Connecting with people all over that share the same ideas and values, people that I would never have had the chance to meet in person.

What do you hope for the future of your business?
My hope for the future is that I can be successful enough, to make a difference in my community, and hopefully many more. 

What is your favorite piece you have made?
Having to pick one, I think it would be my elephant palm necklace which is very simple, but I love elephants, so it has an extra soft spot.

For those starting out, what advice would you give them?
Wow! There is so much, don't get discouraged, keep doing what you love because it will show.

Thank you for sharing Anna. I wish you all the best in your jewelry business.

You can find Anna at the following web locations:
Webpage: https://www.beadsforseeds.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beadsforseeds/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beads4seeds/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadsForSeedsShop

Meet the Maker: Kimberly Michele from Tater Nooney

Hello, Friends. How are you? I hope that this finds you well. We had some lovely weather this week. So we had lots of fun walking to the Post Office to mail off Happy Mail and to pick it up! My youngest loves to pick flowers and sticks and rocks and then gift them to the mailman. What have you done this week?

It's time for another post in our fun Meet the Maker Series! I am having so much fun sharing these makers with all of you. I hope that you are enjoying meeting them. If you would like to be featured email me at mtnittanycreations@gmail.com or join in on our #followfriday feature giveaway on Instagram.

Today, I am introducing you to Kimberly from Tater Nooney. She hails originally from Georgia but is currently living in Kansas. She has been there for a little less than a year.

Tell me, Kimberly, How long have you been crafting and what got you started?
I have been crafting since I was about 10 years old.
I started crafting when I spent my summers with my grandmother in Ohio. I learned to make my first pair of beaded earrings. It was something so simple but I was proud I made them. I still remember exactly what they look like and I think I have them around here somewhere. What a fun memory. If you find them I would love to see a picture of those earrings.

What inspires you about beading?
One of the things that really drew me into beads was that I could create anything. Beading is not one dimensional, the sky is the limit to what you can make. My family is the big inspiration behind everything I do. The pieces that have names, they are named after the strong women in my life as well as other strong women I meet along the way. I have two kids and I would love to show them and others you can do and be anything you put your mind too. Don't get me wrong it is hard work but doing something different and that you love is okay.What a great legacy you would like to leave your kids.

Kimberly when did you start selling online and Why?
I started selling online at the end of October 2016.
One of the biggest reasons I decided to sell online was it allowed me to be able to spend more time with family and it is nice to get them involved in the process. My wonderful daughter is my neck model, my son helps with all the IT, and my husband helps with picking colors and keeping my head on straight. But I also love that it allows for me to meet wonderful talented people from everywhere.
That's great that the whole family is involved. We have that in our business as well and it is such a blessing and a joy to work with all of them.

What do you hope for from your business?
My hopes for the future of my business is hard, the easy answer would be that it is successful but I want more than that. I want to be able to help charities that are very close to my heart like Breast cancer and Alzheimer's which affects many women and many in my family. Also, I want to leave something for my children to be proud of. Wow, that is really neat that you want to be able to donate to charities. What a blessing. Also, that is great you want to leave something for your children. How neat.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made?
My most favorite piece...Hard!!! They all have such a special meeting or back story so every time I make something new it becomes my favorite! Corny I know.
Not Corny at all. That is very sweet.

What advice would you give to others looking to go into the crafting business?
Love what you do, hard work, and persistence!! Nothing happens over night but if you love what you do it will show in your work and others will see that.
That is so true.

Thank you again so much for this opportunity. I think this is wonderful and please continue with your amazing work.

Thank you so much for sharing Kimberly and for your kind words. It has been so neat to get to know you better. I wish you all the best with your business.


website:www.etsy.com/shop/taterandnooney
Instagram:taterandnooney

More Info Coming Soon! Stay Tuned!