New Items!!

I've been busy creating ~ obviously, since I definitely haven't been blogging ~ and I just wanted to show a few things here. First, some broken china items:



I've also been making some glass art pendants - these are a lot of fun, double sided and go with everything!

I've also added some very inexpensive glass bead earrings to my Etsy site, $7 and Free U.S. Shipping!

So, stop by my Etsy shop and take a look around at all the new items! http://www.brokenchinatreasures.etsy.com/

Eco Chic Artist and Crafters

I was featured on a wonderful blog today:
http://inspirationturndesign.blogspot.com/

Stop by and take a look at Pam's beautiful artwork, invitations and announcements.

I want to thank Pam again for featuring me. In anticipation of the feature spot, Iadded quite a few more items to my shop. Be sure to stop in and take a look!

www.BrokenChinaTreasures.etsy.com

Blog Block!!

Sorry I haven't stayed up to date on my blogging, but sometimes I just don't know what to write....or maybe I've just been distracted by college football!!! Yes, I follow my home team and we go to all the home games or watch the away games (Go 'Noles!!!).
I have been updating my Etsy store with a few items. I've added another angel:
A few pendants:



And a business card holder:

A little survey here: How many of you would be interested in learning to make your own broken china jewelry?

I'm also toying with the idea of offering supplies so people can make their own jewelry. (I've already posted a few broken china blanks to test the waters). I've had an e-book in the works on how to make broken china jewelry and hope to get that finished real soon (just a few legal things I need to research).

Also, I would love to hear from you if you have any ideas about what you would like to see - more jewelry, more angels, different shapes for the jewelry - let me hear your thoughts!!

New Jewelry!!! Pins/Brooches

I have finally completed a few pieces ~ these are pins/brooches. Take a look here:

I'll have them posted on Esty shortly.

The Lake and T.S. Fay

We have so been looking forward to getting a tropical storm this year. I don't wish this on the people in south Florida, but we desperately need the rain.

Last year, restoration on our "lake" began (it's a long, long story but I guess it needed to be done). I say "lake" because it's not really a lake ~ more like a small pond. Anyway, it was drained and scraped and dirt was moved around and a little dirt was actually hauled away. This is what we were left with:

Of course, with the small amount of rain we've gotten this summer, it was just enough to allow renegade vegetation to grow. Very sad looking.

So, now you know why we are looking forward to T.S. Fay. I hope she leaves us with a lot of rain, at least enough to cover up the dirt mound left in the middle of the lake so at least it looks like a lake and not a marsh.

The Owl

It seems we are having a bumper crop of frogs this year and apparently it is great fodder for the owls. For a few nights I noticed two owls hanging around and they appeared to be agitated with each other. I assume they are a little territorial and wanted to establish their own "hunting grounds". One won out and has been doing some great hunting and eating for the past week. I was sitting on the back porch on the phone with my son one evening and The Owl did a very, very close fly by. I'm not sure he realized I was sitting there, but it flew so close in front of me that I was startled. It could not have been more than 8-10 feet from me!

So, I decided that I needed to get this great predator on film. I took quite a few shots and was very surprised that he/she allowed me to get as close as I did. Here's his/hers great pose for me:

Show Mode and China Dust

Well, it's that time of year! Time to get into "show mode"! That's what Mr. China calls it when I am frantically working my poor little fingers to the bone getting all my stock ready for the fall shows around here. The garage has a thin layer of china dust everywhere! The living room is converted to the "solder station" (yes, I put it away each night, but drag it out the next day to work, work, work.) Also, the "office" is in shambles because I have my makeshift photo cube set up and jewelry all over the place. But, Mr. China is very patient and forgiving and knows this is something I must do to keep sane.


About the china dust, it gets everywhere! I need to come up with some type of barrier to try to keep it contained. This is what I cut two weekends ago:




Not very pretty at the moment, but after I smooth out the edges (yes, a little more china dust was flying through the air), clean it up and foil the edges, this is what I have:



Now the little china pieces have to go to the "solder station". Stay tuned so that you can get a first glimpse at the finished products.

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Oops - a little interruption ~~ Although I'm in "show mode", when I get that call from my son asking if I can keep my grandson on Saturday ~~ screeeeeech ~~all work comes to a grinding halt! There's nothing more important than seeing that cute little two year old and it's unbelievable how much he changes in just two weeks! His newest trick ~ opening a door, grabbing each doorknob, picking up his feet and ....wheeee...."look Grammy, I'm swingin'!" He is just hilarious! Can't wait to see what his next "trick" will be!

What happened to the Beatrix Potter Jewelry????

I'm so sorry to have teased you with my last post about the Beatrix Potter jewelry. It certainly was not intentional. If any of you have ever spent any time in the forums at Etsy.com, you know there is a lot of discussion about copyright infringement and how wrong it is. I agree. That being said, I have removed my Beatrix Potter jewelry. I have written the company to ask permission to continue selling these items and if I get the permission (granted I don't have to pay dearly for royalties), I will have them back.

If you are interested in this line of jewelry, please leave me a message and I will be sure to contact you when (and if) I have the permission to sell.

Thank you for your understanding.

~~ Tanya

Newly Listed Items (and Preview of What's to Come Next!)

I have been busy making more of my Beatrix Potter jewelry. In addition to the bracelet with numerous Beatrix Potter characters seen here:

I have recently listed the sweet, hardworking Tailor of Gloucester....

... and will be listing these shortly ~ the beautiful and naive Jemima Puddle-Duck....

......the sweet but mischievous Ben Bunny.....

..... and the adorable Squirrel Nutkin!

Keep an eye on http://www.brokenchinatreasures.etsy.com/ for the addition of these adorable character pendants.

Broken China Treasures - What is This?

Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog post! I'm just going to wander my way through this business of blogging. I'm sure I'll make quite a few mistakes along the way but I hope to make a lot of friends in the process.

Broken China Treasures - What is This?

Well, I take broken china, like this:


And create precious treasures, like this:

As you can see, I create angels, jewelry and even business card holders. If you are interested in any of my items, please feel free to contact me through this blog or check out my etsy shop at http://www.brokenchinatreasures.etsy.com/

If you have a treasured piece of broken, chipped or cracked china that you can't bear to toss away and keep shoved in the back of your cabinet, bring it out in the open as a piece of jewelry or angel to enjoy more frequently. Remember, it's not doing you any good if you hide it!

I'm always looking for unique pieces and use whatever I can get my hands on. I prefer working with fine china or bone china, but if I come across some pretty pottery or stoneware, I'll certainly try it. I search garage sales, antique sales, auctions, etc. and even try to find some great deals at TJ Maxx or Marshall's.

Please keep checking this blog to see my latest creations.