the glass onion

Pittsburgh Pride

2011-02-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Locket

2011-01-31T12:52:00.000-08:00

Nook Necklace is new in my shop

back in business

2011-01-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

see the Baby Urchin earrings and others in my shop now

festive funny

2010-12-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

merry

2010-12-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Fear the Beard

2010-10-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Dad, this one is for you. Our family is very excited for tonight's game, S.F. Giants (woo!) vs. Texas Rangers (boo). A little more about how these great bearded items fit the theme here. Go Giants!

Fleet Week 2010

2010-10-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

It was recently Fleet Week in San Francisco. We enjoyed a weekend of air shows, ship tours, lovely weather, and good friends.

iLove...

2010-09-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

my iPhone

substrata
nightmarebox
latelierdelulu
geekunique

special delivery

2010-08-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

We're heading out of town for one last getaway before school starts back. We'll be joining my in-laws in beautiful Lake Tahoe. Working best under pressure, I needed a deadline in order to finally complete a necklace I was making for my mother-in-law. She is as good as they come. So, when she asked for a specific necklace, I was more than happy to oblige. I added the clasp today, without a minute to spare. I hope she likes it...

Summer Squeeze

2010-08-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

Summery citrus delights.

Back to Life

2010-06-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

I'm just beginning to settle back into my life, after a crisis. I've been away from home for almost 2 months, and my shop has been closed most of that time. I'm finally back home again and the Glass Onion is open for business! My family took a much needed get-away to Pismo Beach, recently. We returned rested, sun tanned, and ready to get back to life. Look for new designs in my shop soon.

Foxy Lady

2010-04-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

image source

I'm a Firefox girl. There are so many useful extensions and add-ons available that make browsing more efficient and enjoyable. This is where Firefox blows Internet Explorer out of the water, I think. The number of ways to customize your browser can be overwhelming. I have quite a few add-ons installed that never get used, or I never got around to using. But, there are some that I use regularly, and have come to rely on to keep me productive and entertained.

StumbleUpon
I discovered Etsy through Stumble Upon, along with so many other fantastic websites. It really is one of the best browser extensions. With almost 10 million members, they are most definitely doing something right. Basically, Stumble Upon is a personalized website discovery tool. It allows you to rate sites (I like it/ I don't like it), and then makes recommendations based on your ratings. There are also some blogging and community features that can be fun. Beware: Stumble Upon can become a major distraction from anything productive you have going on.

Read It Later
Love this! Easily save pages to visit later with just one click. It's much easier than bookmarking, and it gives you access to your reading list from any computer and even your iPhone. I use this mainly for blogging. I wanted an easier way to reference multiple links that I was including in one blog post. This fit the bill. Trying to blog nine different Etsy shops, with photos and links, can be clunky and time consuming. This add-on makes it so much easier and streamlined.

Picnik
A easy to use photo editing tool that runs on your browser. There is an extension that allows you to right click any image and upload it for editing. I like it enough to pay to be a premium member. But, the free version has plenty of editing features to get the job done. Picnik is a terrific free editor.

FireShot
This extension creates screenshots and allows you to easily edit what you've captured. Very useful and has added features most other screen capturing services don't have.

Rescue Time
I just installed this, so I can't say what I think of it yet. But, I'm intrigued by the concept. It basically keeps track of your web browsing and gives detailed data about how (un)productive you are. So far, 57% of my browsing is distracting according to Rescue Time. You are able to customize the way it determines how distracting a website is. For instance, by default, Etsy is considered very distracting because it is a shopping website. But, I am able to customize it so that Etsy falls into the business category, thus becoming a much more productive part of my browsing day. That's what I'm telling myself for now, anyway. Luckily, you are able to pause the browser tracking any time you no longer wish to be reminded how much time you spend being productive.

These are just a couple of the great Firefox enhancements I currently use. Feel free to share any must-have add-ons that you use.

Patient. Pshaw!

2010-04-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

A closer looks shows that each of the pencils above have a letter of the alphabet carved into the lead. A project that took artist Dalton Ghetti, 2 1/2 years to complete. A hobby of his in which he uses only a sewing needle, a razor blade and a number 2 pencil. He does it all without a magnifying glass.

I was most impressed with his project in which he transformed the lead of a pencil into a 23 link chain.

and I thought I was a patient person. More of his work:

unexpected

2010-03-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

For my daughter, today was all about wearing green to school and making sure we had time in the morning to paint a clover on her cheek, like I promised. For my husband and I, today was our wedding anniversary. A St. Patrick's day wedding wasn't our original plan.

In November of 2000, when we were dating, we took a trip to Kauai. It was, and always will be the best vacation I ever had. It was my first time to Hawaii. I had so much fun snorkeling and taking underwater pictures of the exact fish we had at home in our aquarium. Everything was perfect - the weather, the lush green everywhere, the water, and the massive avocados! We stayed in a gorgeous condo with the beach in our backyard. It was truly, paradise. One night we took a walk before dinner. I was talking and I turned to look at Rob, as he pulls out a ring from his pocket and proposed. I was blown away and so caught off guard, that I forgot to say yes (at first). I wasn't so much surprised that he asked, as I was that he planned it all and had a ring without me ever suspecting a thing. We were already living together, at the time, and shared everything. The fact that he managed to pull that off, still amazes me, today.

Once we were back home from our trip, we decided that we were in no hurry and wanted plenty of time to plan our wedding. We set a date almost 2 years away, which was to be 02/02/02. We liked the idea of having such a memorable date. For the next few months I began collecting articles and photos for inspiration and was looking forward to making all the arrangements. The following January, Rob's parents took us back to Kauai. Again, it was a fabulous time. On our flight home, I remembered what time of the month it was and realized I was "late". On our way home from the airport we stopped to pick up a pregnancy test (actually 2. I wanted to be sure). Before we even had our suitcases unpacked, we learned I was pregnant. It was news we weren't expecting, but still, happy news. After a few days of discussing it, we decided we wanted to get married much sooner. I was pretty set on avoiding shopping for a maternity wedding dress. So, the date was moved way up, now 2 months away, on March 17th. One call to the wedding coordinator at Caesars , Lake Tahoe, and our wedding was planned. It was simple and small. Although it wasn't the wedding I had begun to plan, it turned out to be a perfect memory. I wouldn't change a thing.

{ Happy Anniversary babe ♥ }

the fish

2010-03-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

for all my fellow pisceans...

happy ♥ day

2010-02-13T22:40:00.000-08:00

love

02

2010-01-27T00:32:00.000-08:00

"The February born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they, the Amethyst will wear."

noblegnome

7

2010-01-17T02:24:00.000-08:00

Project Runway season 7 has begun. It seems like last season just ended. Emilo was the winner for week 1 with his fabulous dress. My favorites so far are Jesse and Pamela.

...some etsy finds inspired by the winning design...

shixie - vintage tin mini dress earrings
itsokmydear - red circus girl mini dress
msbelle - circular expression earrings
michaelarras - small circle table

♥ connections

2010-01-14T00:54:00.000-08:00

the best way to discover new shops is to check out the favorite shops of people you ♥. shops I like are bound to have other great shops on their list. I started at one of my newly ♥'d shops, mooza. On their list of favorites, I discovered another fabulous shop, oiseauxNoir. ...and so on. follow my ♥ trail and see what other great shops I discovered.

Happy

2010-01-02T00:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. I wish everybody a happy and healthy 2010.

twenty ten

2009-12-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

The end of the year always sneaks up on me, much faster than I expect. I didn't prepare my shop, the way I would have liked, for the holiday shopping rush. I was busy with other things and couldn't devote enough time to selling. Luckily, a new year brings new beginnings and a chance to start fresh. Organization is the word for 2010. Every aspect of my life will benefit from having a little more order.

Usually, I wait until after the new year, before I take down the Christmas tree and store all trimmings. But in an effort to be more organized, I decided to do it now, giving me one less thing to worry about next year.
For Christmas, my husband hooked me up with oodles of new bead storage. Now all of the loose supplies will have a home. There will even be plenty of room for beads that I have yet to own.
My next task is to get myself a calendar. A big one. With lots of space for notes. and scribbles. I'm thinking a wall calendar. a whole year. and one for my desk. that will also fit in my bag.

1. upup

2. mod86designery

3. septemberhouse

4. magnoliamoonlight

5. colettepaperie

6. lemontree77

7. zany

8. lettercdesign

9. thesketchedbook

wrapping it up

2009-12-04T01:16:00.000-08:00

Make holiday gifts extra special with these great gift wrapping finds...

creativechics - cotton ticking gift bags

caramelos - red and white ribbon

ormolu - t'was the night before paper chain

madebyjackie - snowflake matchbox gift boxes

smockpaper - savoy gift wrap

handmadebygrace - reindeer stickers

noodleandlouvintage - jingle jingle vintage bells

inkspotworkshop - mini tree gift tags

Black Friday

2009-11-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am offering free worldwide shipping through November, including this upcoming shopping weekend. Many Etsy shops are participating in site wide promotions, offering sales to encourage shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Let's hope everyone prospers from these events and beyond. To celebrate, here are some fabulous pieces, in shades of black, from some of my favorite fellow jewelry artists.

noblegnome

marieflyfly

KristinFriesen

ShySiren

sunkengardenbeads

SouthPawStudios

PoleStar

betsy3

msbelle

Mad Men

2009-11-10T23:58:00.000-08:00

I've recently started watching Mad Men on AMC. I'm late in the game, as the show is nearing the end of season 3. I rented season 1 from Netflix, to check it out and instantly became a fan. As I was making my way through the first season, I realized I could catch up with season 3 via my ComCast On Demand. So, although I'm starting at both ends, working my way to the middle of seasoon 2, I'll be caught up and ready for season 4 with the rest of the world. There better be a season 4.

One of the best parts of Mad Men is its mid century style. Smoking and drinking never looked so good. The characters and the dynamics between them all, both at work and at home, is fascinating. If you're not already a fan, watch and you will be.

thelogchateau - lucky strike flat fifties cigarette tin

2BoredBunnies - Samsonite briefcase classic black and silver

Hindsvik - large brown school clock

audreyandgrace - custom cocktail dress

adVintagous - The vintage avocado rotary phone

elloh - Don - Ode to Mad Men print

soule - ball ashtray mid century

vintagemelody - vintage brown felt Fedora

belovedbaglady - lovely liquor bottle

Running Away

2009-11-01T23:50:00.000-08:00

How fabulous it would be if I were lying on a beach somewhere, without a care in the world, far away from here. Pack my bags with everything here (add some rum), and I'd be a happy, happy girl.

obellanaturals

LinenMe

TeamRuster

wise

2009-10-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

This

is what

you

shall do:

love the earth

and sun,

and animals,

despise

riches,

give alms

to every one

that asks,

stand up

for the stupid

and crazy,

devote your income

and labor

to others,

hate tyrants,

argue not

concerning God,

have patience

and indulgence

towards

the people,

take off your hat

to nothing known

or unknown,

or to any man

or number of men;

go freely

with the powerful

uneducated

persons,

and with the young,

and mothers,

of families:

read

these leaves

in the open air

every season

of every year

of your life:

re-examine

all you have been told

at school

or church,

or in any books,

and

dismiss

whatever

insults

your

soul.

-Walt Whitman

hisss

26olivestreet

linkeldesigns

BombusCraft

alidesign

Etsy Roots

2009-10-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

I first discovered Etsy, while searching the web for photography to post to a blog I had, way back when. It was a photo blog that showcased photography from the web. I was so impressed with all the talented photographers on Etsy. I spent hours browsing the site. Of course, the talent is still incredible and now there is even more of it to enjoy. I thought I'd revisit the photography category of Etsy, to seek out fabulous fall foliage. While I could easily showcase 100's of favorites, I've kept it to just 9. Enjoy.

hazydaisy sixhours bornat535

ara133photography hellotenfold pitoreskni

ameliakayphotography photogrunt dahliahousestudios

Remedy

2009-10-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

The flu got us at my house. Now that we are recovering, I thought I'd see about being more prepared, for next time. (click the shop links below to see more about each)

rootworkherbals stepanka sonatasoap athyme2bcomforted
grazim lovemeragged rhan distilledrose

typography

2009-09-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

typography on etsy

farouche
kateblack
afavorite
greenlivetextiles
roadsidephotographs
kelsyhenke
orangebeautiful
plastique
jacksoncreekpress

easy tasty salsa

2009-09-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

I love making this salsa. My family asks for it all the time. It's really
delicious and incredibly easy. I don't follow an exact recipe, but it
turns out right every time. You can't get it wrong.I like my salsa on
the hotter side, so adjust the heat with more or less jalapenos.

in a blender, add:

2 -14.5 oz. cans diced/peeled tomatoes
1 medium white onion diced
1 bunch cilantro leaves (two big handfuls)
1 - 4 oz. can diced jalapenos, drained (use less for milder salsa)
1 clove garlic chopped
1 T sugar
salt and pepper

blend it just until everything is combined
chill for an hour and serve
store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

there will be plenty to share with friends.

reflections of...

2009-09-14T22:02:00.000-07:00

reflect on these unusual mirrors.

half mirror

The Future Perfect

polaroid mirror

design boom

modern movement mirror

red candy

wiper bathroom mirror (how cool is this!)

suck UK

puzzle mirror
uncommon goods

anamorphic image mirror cup and saucer.

anamorphic series

Changes

2009-09-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

Things changed around here, again. I'm fickle and I need to mix things up a bit or I get bored. Enjoy these Etsy finds that celebrate the changes of the coming season.

lepapierstudio
fringe
faeiriedtreasures
truLuxe

Befitting Banners

2009-09-07T02:18:00.001-07:00

These banners seem to fit perfectly in their shops.

(click banners to visit shops)

september sapphires

2009-08-31T03:19:00.000-07:00

As summer's end nears, tomorrow September begins. The new month represents the sparkling sapphire. Behold these blue beauties...

singleBbeautiful

mamabeadjunkie
abyssalGems
360jewels
Kateszabone
McFarlandDesigns
drndesigns
oudin
rockedjewelry

g l o w i n g

2009-08-29T00:03:00.000-07:00

viewfinder

marieflyfly
aliciablock
beijoflor

Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds

2009-08-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

We caved and got a puppy. Our daughter has been asking for a while and we considered it. Neither my husband nor I has had a dog before, but we both thought it would be nice. We decided to surprise her for her birthday, and had a puppy waiting for her when she got home from school. She couldn't have been happier. We named her Lucy, and she has been with us for 6 days now. It's a lot more work than I prepared myself for. Luckily, she is cute enough to make up for the lack of sleep. It's a bit like having a new baby, but thankfully they grow up a lot faster.

tag. you're it.

2009-08-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was tagged by XauXau. Here were the questions and my answers. Now I need to go tag 8 people...

What is your current obsession?
everything white.

What is your weirdest obsession?
avocados. I take forever in the produce section picking out the perfect one.

What are you wearing today?
jeans, black blouse, and my favorite new pair of wedges I got on sale.

What's for dinner?
Krabby Patties (can you tell my daughter loves sponge bob?)

What is your favorite book?
Ferdinand

What's the last thing you bought?
back to school clothes

What are you listening to right now?
Dire Straits - sultan of swing

What is your favorite ice-cream flavour?
Gold Medal Ribbon at Baskin Robbins

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
she crochets cute cherries and bikinis

If you could have house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
San Francisco

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
have a drink with my sister

Which language do you want to learn?
Italian

Who do you want to meet right now?
Matt Dillon

What is your favorite color?
I can never decide.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
a pair of jeans

What is your favorite magazine?
Real Simple

If you had a £100 now, what would you spend it on?
shoes

What is you favorite time of the day?
night

Describe your personal style!
simple.

What are you going to do after this?
laundry

What are your favorite movies?
Midnight Run, Spanglish, Silence of the Lambs, Cold Mountain

What is your favorite fruit?
strawberries

What inspires you?
colors

What is your dream job?
well paid jewelry designer

What is stopping you?
know how

If you could change something in the world to make it better place what would that be?
banish stupidity

What is your favorite room in your home?
kitchen

What is your favorite tool?
pliers

Where did you grow up?
Benicia, CA

The rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.

Vintage 101

2009-08-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

Blog post # 101 features great vintage finds in shades of black.

papermache highstreetmarket backthennishvintage
redhousevintages oldcoot ajewelryplace
economica bunkie71977 domestikate

Icing on the Cake

2009-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

(my color is the lightest, on the right. "icing on the cake")

I've been working on my guest bathroom. It all started when I found a paint color, the perfect shade of blue. I'll share, another day, how that project turned out. But, I am pretty pleased about the shower curtain I found. I had my eye on one from Anthropologie. I just couldn't bring myself to spend $120 on a shower curtain. But, it was really cute. How excited was I to find something similar at Target for $30! Not an exact match, but good enough for the money I saved.

Anthropologie

Target

Good Friends

2009-08-03T01:03:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Katie was in town this weekend. I couldn't wait to see her. It had been 8 years since I last saw her. We missed so much during those years. But, when I saw her, it was like no time had passed. Good times. She's heading out tomorrow, but I know we'll stay in touch.

Here's to good friends...

whimseywireandwool wevegotpaper downstairsdesigns
humblechan sarranorris tangbaby
bombus reparapy pbdoggy

jellyfish. check

2009-07-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

My last post, was done in haste. I was on my way out for the weekend. I quickly googled photos of Monterey, and decided on the pretty orange jellyfish. (in my rush, I failed to credit the image source, and will when I can find it.) Anyway, I was determined to see those jellyfish on my trip, and get my own shots. When I found the jellies, I couldn't help but be mesmerized. They are gorgeous - and so many of them. I had forgotten how awesome the aquarium is. I got my shots, and others as well. All in all, the trip was a success.

Get Out of Town

2009-07-17T13:29:00.001-07:00

I'm heading out of town for a mini vacation to beautiful Monterey. Hopefully I'll have pictures and good times to share when I return.

everything ephemera

2009-07-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

Long before my bead and gemstone days, I had an obsession for vintage paper and ephemera. I still enjoy discovering great pieces to add to my collection. I especially love anything with handwriting , Polaroid photos, and pharmacy ephemera.

Ephemera is everywhere. The attics, basements, and garages of relatives are good places to look if your wanting to start or add to a collection. Imagine what treasures must be hidden away in boxes everywhere, that will never see the light of day.

Etsy shops are a great resource for all types of vintage paper and ephemera. Be sure to search both the vintage and supplies categories, as they both contain a plethora of goodies. It's always fun to find kits and bundles that people put together and offer for sale. Often they contain a great variety and can be full of unusual surprises. Ephemera on Etsy is plentiful. Here are some great finds I came across today.

(click for a larger view)

1. millinerymiss

2. desertnana

3. CoolVintage

4. shop66

5. ShayneLilyRain

6. greenpaperpackage

7. Decadence2artbar

8. vintagepyg

9. goodneighbor vintage

Happy Accidents

2009-07-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today was a bit windy. Especially for the 4th of July. I was taking some pictures of a few new pieces while trying to hold down anything that could get carried away with the wind. The ends of my hair kept blowing in the way and I was running out of limbs to hold things down. I decided to call it quits. When I got inside, I quickly scrolled through my shots to see if any were keepers. This adorable little yellow flower snuck into this shot somehow. My hair must have been in my way, because I never noticed until after the fact. Weird. Cute, but weird.

the June Contest Winner is...

2009-06-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

AngelTreats who guessed 375 beads. There were actually 413 beads in the photo. So, I'd say that is a pretty close guess. I notified the winner by email, to tell her she wins a pair of earrings from my shop. Congrats AngelTreats and thank you for playing everyone.

It's About Treasury Time

2009-06-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

Not that I've made much of an effort, but I finally was able to get a treasury after a loooong hiatus. Not just one, but two. The treasury and Twest were opening up within 1/2 hour of each other, so I whipped these up in a hurry.

♥

don't forget to enter the contest by guessing how many beads are in the photo. The winner gets a free pair of earrings. Enter here.

♥

June Contest

2009-06-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's contest time again. Guess the number of beads in the photo. The person who comes closest wins a pair of earrings from my shop (your choice). Leave a comment to enter. I'll announce the winner on June 27th. Good luck. (one guess per person please)

Through June 27th everyone receives free shipping on any order when you enter "seed beads" in the note to seller upon checkout.

Post Post

2009-06-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

I picked up some great vintage flower cabs that are adorably tiny. They were perfect for for sweet little earrings. Paired simply with sterling posts, and just added to my shop. I can't decide which pair to keep for myself.

tiny flower posts - $14

♥

Morning Coffee

2009-06-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

joannasphotography

I came across this FireFox add-on, Morning Coffee. It allows you to set multiple websites to open in separate tabs when you open your browser, each morning. You can further set each site to open only certain days of the week, like MWF, or just weekends. Most of us have several places we visit first thing, each day. My morning coffee includes my Etsy shop, my email, my blog, and PayPal.

One feature that I'd love to see is one that allows me to categorize websites into tab groups. I could then choose which group to open, depending on what I'm doing, such as blogging, business, socializing, shopping, wasting time, etc. If anyone knows of a tool that does that, please share.

Shades of Red

2009-06-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

MKSupplies

weberphoto

Ikestaedt
desertsoapstone
NewMoonStudio
larimeloom

mariagotijoyas

A Matter of Time

2009-05-27T01:15:00.000-07:00

take the time to...

(click to view)

...do what you love

Fresh Squeeze

2009-05-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

photo by cybergirl5710

I love when people share their lemons. When they do, it's usually a big bowl full. Lemons are great to have on hand. When they are plentiful, I like to make lemonade. It's easy, delicious, and perfect for summer time. The great big glass pitcher I fill never lasts very long.

It couldn't be easier to make...

6 lemons

1 cup sugar

6 cups cold water
ice

for easier juicing, roll the lemons firmly over the counter top with your hand before slicing.

juice lemons to make 1 cup lemon juice. in pitcher, combine lemon juice, sugar, and water.

stir until sugar is dissolved. chill and serve over ice. makes 6 servings.

if you are not in a hurry, make simple syrup to sweeten the lemonade instead.

make extra to keep on hand for the next time.

in a sauce pan combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. bring to a boil, stirring until

sugar is dissolved. cool. follow recipe above, substituting the simple syrup for the sugar.

Make it even more special by serving it in a vintage pitcher...

Style 2 Ways

2009-05-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

Domino magazine published their last issue in March of this year. One feature I enjoyed was when they would create a style to wear which was inspired by a room. Here is my take ...

The room.

therugcompany

jeans , blouse , shoes , necklace , bracelet , bag

Happy Mother's Day.

2009-05-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

♥

"There is no one way to be the perfect mother,

and a million ways to be a good one."
~Jill Churchill

( flowers by allencompanyinc )

Happy Mother's Day.

$10 Shop Sale

2009-05-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Making way for new designs, I've marked down 20 items in my shop to $10.00.
Check out the $10 section here. (Don't forget blog readers can get FREE SHIPPING when
you mention code: "onion blog" at checkout)

Color Match

2009-05-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

image from HoneyTree

When Etsy released its API, I knew soon, we would begin to see some great applications. Of course, now we are so fortunate to have Heartomatic, Etsy Hacks, and craftopolis, which are all so handy. Also, released was Maker Spot, and Soop See, which give us creative ways to share our wares with the world. Recently announced was Etsy Addict for your iPhone, which lets you navigate your favorite shops and browse Etsy.

I just discovered the latest Etsy toy, that is so much fun. ColorMatch, which allows you to upload any JPEG image and ColorMatch will extract out the color hues and then search Etsy items that match your custom colors and optional keywords. It is absolutely ideal for creating treasuries and fun blog posts. I had so much fun tinkering with ColorMatch.

With HoneyTree's maui county fair print as my inspiration, here is what else I discovered...

honeytree
amerimagesbytim
seedclothing
stamp
jasysboo
seaspritesoaps
artisianimpact
sumari
chicalookate
jacquelineknits
countrygarden
fraskedesign

No Bones About It

2009-05-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not usually one to think of bones or a skeleton when it comes to jewelry. So this is definitely one of those pieces you've got to see to appreciate. Last night I stumbled upon this bracelet by Delfina Delettrez, and was immediately captivated by it. It's both anatomical and beautiful at the same time.

New Math

2009-04-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

I found these great equations from New Math, a place I found from this blog.

More great New Math to see here.

Contest Winner

2009-04-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who played along this time around. I appreciate the interest and all the nice comments.

The $25.00 gift certificate goes to..... Amy! Hurray Amy. Congratulations. Look for an email from me with your prize attached. I hope you find something you like.

Stay tuned for new designs.

Green Is the New Black

2009-04-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

(click images for a better view)

timtierney
katevw
cozycottagecreations
Artsy
SarahBurden
myvictorygarden
jellybeanlab
snowowl
teedle

April Contest Giveaway

2009-04-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last month I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout for my giveaway. So much so, I'm encouraged to do it again. This time I'm giving away a $25 gift certificate to my shop. To enter, just leave a comment that includes a way to get in touch with you (in case you win). The winner will be picked randomly again, and announced next week. Good luck.

and some of the latest designs added to my shop:

Meet Jen of PoleStar

2009-04-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a big admirer of Jen's work. Her Etsy shop, PoleStar, is full of gorgeous jewelry. I love the simplicity of her designs. Most of her pieces are made with beautiful gemstones. But, she also has some great work made with vintage beads. Not only is she a super sweet lady, but she's managed to make a great success of her shop, in a massively saturated jewelry category on Etsy. Bravo!

Jen was kind enough to answer some questions so we can learn more about her...

1. Tell a little about yourself.

My name is Jennifer C. from Raleigh, NC.  I have lived all over the US and some 
time in Europe but I settled in Raleigh and with the exception of finishing up 
some schooling I  have lived here for almost 14 years now.

2.  What do you create.  What is your shop.  Talk about your work.

I create gemstone, vintage bead and lamp work jewelry.  I really like to mix 
metal tones such as gold/copper/oxidized and non oxidized sterling silver. 

3.  What inspires you?

I tend to be more inspired by gemstones but I really love vintage beads as well.     
I am inspired also by pop culture, nature, human connection to Earth and our 
experience of it.  Movies and books are very inspiring to me as well.  I try to 
force myself to make time to watch movies I know will be inspiring and also to sit 
down and make time to relax.  I read every night before I close my eyes and I try 
to read a good mix of nonfiction and fiction for inspiration.  I am also very 
inspired by music, but only when I am in the right mood.  I am pretty emotionally 
affected by music so while it is inspirational, I don't listen to it that often 
unless I am in a mood to create along a certain line.

4.  Are you able to create full time, or do you have another day job?

I stay home with my two boys, who are 2 and 4.  I do not make jewelry
until they are in bed so most of my work is nocturnal.  I photograph my jewelry
while my 2 year old naps and sometimes prepare items to be shipped while the
boys are awake but that is all I can manage with the two of them running around. 
And with Spring arriving we will be out of the house as much as we can, so night
time is the right time for me!

5.  What is the hardest lesson you have had to learn?

The hardest lesson for me has been balancing a busy business with my personal
life.  I really try to think of myself as a "work at home" business owner but my
children are young now, and it is the time to concentrate on them.  They will be in
school all day down the road, and part of me really looks forward to being able to 
concentrate on my business more.  

6.  What is your favorite and least favorite part of the work you do? 

My favorite part is having an excuse to buy gorgeous gemstones and create
beautiful and simple designs from them.  I really love the photography and photo
editing part of listing the jewelry.  

My least favorite part is shopping for supplies, spending the money to order 
supplies and preparing items to ship.  It just gets tedious.  

7.  What other talent/craft would you like to learn?

There is so much.  I would love to be an illustrator, know how to sew, I would also 
love to learn some metalwork.  

8.  If you could choose a celebrity to wear/endorse/use your work, who would it be?

Anyone, really. Who am I to turn down that kind of exposure?  I would never feel 
right sending some free I don't think, but hey, if they are buying it, they are free 
to do whatever they want with it on, just please be in front of a camera!  ;)

9.  Some of Jen's favorite things: 

color:  Midnight Blue, food:  Korean,  website,  http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/,  
city: Paris, place to vacation:  any beach,  time of day 9pm, 
team:  NC Triangle Street Team,  season:  Autumn, holiday:  Halloween.


Thank you Jen for the fabulous interview.
Don't forget to visit Jen's shop, PoleStar.

Secrets and Curiosities

2009-04-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

Secret Decoder Card w/ Custom Message by CrankBunny

Our Secret Place photograph by Zuppartisa

Curious - mini art feeling by ArtMind

Secret Message Envelope by SweetiePie

Secret Message cuff links by Smashing

Vintage French Book Hallow Book Safe by Pommesfrites

10 seconds

2009-04-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was so on the ball with when the Treasury was going to be opening up. I kept my eye on it all day and was completely prepared with my items, title, etc. I'm no rookie when it comes to snagging a treasury, so I was more than confident when it came down to the final few minutes. There were 10 seconds left and I put my hand on my mouse, ready to click. Klutzy me, accidentally clicked an active treasury, and by the time I was able to get past the rainbow mandala, and back again, it was too late! I shouted a few obscenities and had to accept it. Next time, I won't be so confident. Here is what would have been my treasury last night...

Mrs. Peacock:

click for a closer look.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T16:50:00.001-07:00

Off the Wall

2009-03-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Etsy is a great place to look if you want to dress up your walls. There is something for everybody for any budget.

jkldesign
irenesuchocki
ara133photography
bullbone
photographybybree
berkleyillustration
littlerobot

Paper n Stitch

2009-03-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

Paper n Stitch is an awesome design/style/indie/craft...blog. Super cool. Brittni, who writes the blog, also has an etsy shop Simple Vintage.

This month my jewelry can be found at the Paper n Stitch exhibition site. I'm so excited to be a part of it all and I'm in excellent company. Lots of great stuff to see - check it out.

Undiscovered

2009-03-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

Found browsing Pounce Undiscovered. Click for a better view. Happy Thursday. Enjoy.

myfoggyday
AmySmithPhotography
theyestryears
dawnsunstudio
katalystphotos
KloRebel
InMyBlueRoom
aflutter
flowerbuddhastudio

sacrifice

2009-03-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

How does one
become a butterfly
she asked.

You must want to fly
so much that you are willing to
give up being
a caterpillar.

photo by:
Eric Gustafson

See the Forest Through the Trees

2009-03-24T10:50:00.001-07:00

(click above for a better look)

ErinTyner

FieldsofAlphelion
ara133photography
dahliahousestudios
southwestflower
serpentine
emmalynne
ifIhadwords
zuppaartista

Blog Make-Over

2009-03-23T23:04:00.001-07:00

As much as I prefer clean and simple, I was getting so bored of my old blog template. I wanted some color, but nothing too flashy. I discovered so many great blogger templates that I wished were easier to integrate. Most of them would require me to scrap all my sidebar items and I didn't want to do that. So, let me know what you think of the new look. I'm still not sure, so I'd love your opinions.

♦ ♦ ♦

I found these beautiful vintage beads in fuchsia. They were a bit oddly shaped with a large hole. It took some tinkering before I was satisfied with something. Now I think they may be one of my favorites.

"Wildflower" Earrings with chunky oxidized copper chain and rough cut vintage glass on sterling french hooks.

♦ ♦ ♦

"I would rather live in a world
where my life is surrounded by mystery
than live in a world so small
that my mind could comprehend it."

Wordle

2009-03-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Anything Indie featured this way cool site Wordle. (How fun is that to say!) Its a sort of tag cloud creater that can be made from scratch by inserting words of your choice, or from any website that has an atom or RSS feed. After the words are chosen, there are lots of ways to customize it even further with fonts, colors, and layouts. I couldn't help but stick around to play a little bit. Watch, you will too. Check Wordle out here.

Shop Sale through Sunday

2009-03-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

Buy any item from The Glass Onion and get a 2nd item 1/2 off. Now through Sunday at midnight.

*2nd item must be of equal or lesser value. check out as usual and I will issue a refund via PayPal.

106

2009-03-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

106. The number of items I have listed in my shop! This is the most I have had listed at one time, ever.

Some newly listed items:

...and late last night, I was lucky enough to be on the front page. Not a prime shopping time, but still cool beans. Thank you musettemade

Etsy's Gone Commercial

2009-03-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

There is a really great Etsy commercial I saw a while back. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look. I'm not sure what the reason was for making it, exactly. I'm thinking it was meant for an online audience. Although it would work for television, I think. (wishful thinking) You can see the company that created it here.

spring fever.

2009-03-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

(Click for larger images)

edor

ingriddijkers
liebling designs
poodlebreath
adornjewelry
thecraftpantry
jillrosenwald
naomiclearyceramics
madebymavis

croak.

2009-03-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

The sound outside my window is absolutely absurd, almost comical. A lovely group of frogs ribbit-ing and croaking their little hearts out. When I say a group, I mean at least 5 different frogs, maybe more. I can tell because each one sounds different, and they answer each other repeatedly. rrrribit- croak brrrrb, rrribit-croak brrrrb...repeat. Then a new pattern starts. My husband built a pond outside my window. Every so often a new gang of frogs moves in and lets us know they've arrived. Their calls could easily drive me bonkers. But, strangely, it's kind of nice. Loud and ridiculous, but nice. How I wish you could hear what I hear.

6060

Handy Dandy Indeed

2009-03-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, I ordered some findings from Accessories Susan. With that first order, they included this fantastic reference chart. It hangs on my wall next to me at my computer. I refer to it so often, (you can see by how beat up it is) I just love it. It comes in handy whenever I list new items in my shop. I use the millimeter/inch guide for measuring my pieces. Also, whenever I am shopping online for beads, I refer to it for size reference. I'd be lost without it. I thought I 'd share it, so others can benefit from it's many uses. I apologize for the creases and such, but they just prove how often it gets used.

Click on the chart for a full size image to print and use. Enjoy.

Look How Fabulous They Are!

2009-03-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Some of you know that I offer a free pair of earrings to anyone who sends me a photo of themselves wearing jewelry they got from my shop. Sharon, who was kind enough to share her photo a few weeks back, wanted to thank me for her free pair. She asked me what colors I liked to wear in the winter time. Soon after, I received a package from her with a fabulous scarf she knitted me. It's thick and long and just gorgeous. It goes perfect with my camel color coat I wear when its cold out. I love my scarf so much and was really taken back by her kindness. (thanks again, Sharon!)

take a look...

Now take a look at another fabulous customer who also shared a photo of herself wearing a pair of earrings she got from my shop. Thank you, Cassie. You're gorgeous!

Plum Crazy

2009-03-10T20:23:00.001-07:00

Would you believe that I was finally able to snag myself a treasury, tonight? It's been weeks since I've done one. I was feeling a bit restless. Check it out...

(click on the photos to visit the treasury list until Friday morning.)

Congratulations!

2009-03-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in my first blog giveaway. I put all the names in a hat, and asked my daughter, Lily, to choose two winners.

First place winner is Candice! Hooray!
Second place winner is Mary Ann! Yippee!

Candice chose the aqua chalcedony earrings, and Mary Ann will receive the emerald green pair.
Congrats you guys, and thanks for playing along. I will definitely be doing more giveaways in the future.

33 and Others

2009-03-03T21:13:00.000-08:00

Turning 33 wasn't so bad after all. Rather than worry about how many candles were on my cake this year, I thought I'd find creativity in numbers of all sizes, instead.

(click photos to view them larger)

credits:
CreativeNeesh
FancifulDesign
PrettyOriginals
SavageSalvage
loriotndorr
RedArrow
Bombus
everyjotandtiittle
Intrigued
stepanka
lalaspequenos
sycamorestreetpress

Tomorrow night I'll choose the winners of the earrings giveaway. I'll contact the winners and post the results on Thursday. So, if you haven't yet, enter here, by leaving a comment.

Skip It.

2009-03-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

image by truong.charlie on flickr

In the morning, I'll be a year older. Yikes. I was supposed to be a leap year baby., but instead arrived 2 days late. Just think, if I had been, I actually could skip this birthday, all together.

Thank you all who entered the earrings contest, so far. And thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes. Even Etsy remembered to wish me a happy birthday. I think I will go pay the balance on my bill, now. It seems fair.

Birthday Giveaway

2009-02-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

To celebrate my birthday next week, I'm having my first giveaway.

Win a pair of Chalcedony and sterling silver earrings. The winner can choose emerald green or aqua. If by chance 10 or more people participate, I'll give both pairs away. First place winner gets to pick the color, and second place gets the other. All names will go in a hat and winners will be picked at random.

Just leave a comment to enter. Winners will be chosen March 4th. Good luck.

Hats Off

2009-02-25T01:24:00.000-08:00

clockwise from top left:
alicehartcouture
sanchia845
terrygraziano
BKMHattitude
piperandpaisley
katieburley
brownbunnybyiris

Snail Mail

2009-02-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

Like I do so often, I was browsing Etsy and came across a message in a bottle from EtsyLoveLetters. It's a personal handwritten love letter in a bottle to give to your sweetie. .I love this idea. It turns out there are lots of great personal fun finds, along this line, on Etsy.

See what I found...

Message in a bottle, original love letter by EtsyLoveLetters.

Snail Mail handwritten valentines sent anonymously from Recy.

1950's Crafty Housewife handwritten letter and vintage supplies from FlyingHousewife

Your own handwriting as a font ttf file from wiccked

Adventure envelopes secret snail mail just for you from Paraphrase

The letter writing service handwritten letter by viaPaddington

I have always wanted to get my Grammy's handwriting done in a font. Especially, now that she is no longer with us. I think I'll dig up some of her handwriting and finally have this done. I know my sisters and mom would appreciate this as well.

clean. fresh. lovely.

2009-02-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

credits:

hijirik

zosia

missesbird
labokoff
almapottery
ricochettestudio
spooldesign
ashleyg
naventin

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T13:15:00.001-08:00

knivesout

t.germeau

UM.Sizzle

OvsaldoZoom

adwriter

JFabra

mohammadali

1271

2009-02-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

a few tidbits rolled into one blog post...

Me and about 1271 others managed to snag a treasury this time around. I wasn't prepared. Quickly, I put this ♥ fest together searching "love".

♦ ♦ ♦

and a little bit of google analytics. Of course being on Etsy's front page is always exciting. It's huge for exposure and views. Notice the "hills" and (mostly) "valley's" showing visitors to my shop the last month. Can you guess which days I was featured on the front page?

♦ ♦ ♦

Thank you to Sharon who's looking lovely wearing my "biggest blooms" earrings...

The offer still stands for anyone that sends me a photo wearing jewelry from The Glass Onion, I will send you a free pair of earrings. Thank you, Sharon.

♦ ♦ ♦

Lastly, a little brain excercise. This game forces you to use both your right brain and left brain at the same time. Seems simple enough, right? (click on the image to play) by brain hurts.

do-nothing-o-matic

2009-02-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

This is the coolest thing ever. Worth a watch.

Front Page Mania

2009-02-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

If it was not for Flickr, I would have had no idea I was on Etsy's front page several times the past few days. I am so grateful for this and those that put me there, especially since everyday it gets more difficult to be seen amongst the oodles of shops on Etsy.

Check me out!

my bubbles necklace...
samurai necklace...

I did happen to catch this one with my "poppy" bracelet.
frost bite earrings...

Cameron necklace...

no complaints.

Stone Soup

2009-02-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

I've had a chance to use some of my gemstones, and added a few pieces to the shop. I find that mostly, they are beautiful on their own and look best in a simple design.

I love the color of these Carnelian. I like how they look with the black of the oxidized silver.

Big yellow jade briolette pendants.

And I only have two of these beauties - lemon and smokey Quartz.

more yellow jade mixed with a few Iolite.

I'm not sure I have a favorite stone yet. What's your favorite gemstone?

Pet Peeve

2009-02-01T23:30:00.000-08:00

image source: inkblots on flickr

A bit of a rant...

To the pizza delivery guy. When I pay you for my pizza, please don't ask me, "how much change do you want back?" I want you to give me all of my change. I will still, gladly tip you. I'll even be generous.

love

2009-01-28T23:17:00.000-08:00

♥♥♥

because ♥ day is just around the corner...

decoratethediva

irenesuchocki

whippedbakeshop

ashleyg

vintagetreasures

♥♥♥

My Latest Obsession

2009-01-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

I am not really sure why, but when I started making jewelry, I never considered working with gemstones. Vintage beads were, and still are my favorite material to work with. I think half the obsession with vintage is the hunt and the excitement of when I find a great vintage treasure.

A few weeks ago, I picked up a few Carnelian briolettes, without thinking too much about how I'd use them. When they arrived, I was captivated by the way the felt in my hand. It's hard to explain, but they feel like quality - very smooth and somehow substantial feeling (if that makes sense). I did not have the right size wire, to be able to use them. So, they sat and they still sit. But since then, I've been searching for more stones and finding more ways to use them in my designs. I'm still figuring out which I like best and learning about their quality and prices. But, I must say, I'm officially hooked. Now, I get what the love for gemstones is all about. My favorite part is still the way they feel when I hold them and rub my fingers over them. No glass bead, vintage or otherwise, feels quite like this.

I've listed a few gemstone pieces in my shop. But look for many more to come. Here's a sampling of some of the stones I've picked up recently. Admire their color and sparkle. You'll have to take my word for it how great they feel.

Out of Character

2009-01-20T21:58:00.000-08:00

image by FortPhoto on Flickr

Normally, I have no interest in blogging about anything political. Although politics is an important topic, it seldom inspires me. (George Bush will do that to a person) Today, I felt hopeful and inspired by what Obama had to say. I think his words spread relief and refreshed sense of hope to many.

Enough cheesy politics.
I leave you with these fabulous Etsy finds in honor of today's events.

44 red risamay

hope train magnusfoto
we are the change we seek modernitem

u nited chelseadossett

a new day has come mudhutt

obama poster geministudio

change ring creashines

Procrastination Condensed

2009-01-15T23:06:00.000-08:00

I really do have good blogging intentions. I am always convincing myself that tomorrow will be a better day to post. I'm playing catch up today.

First, I have another customer photo to share. (love these!). This is the fabulous Jen from Maine. She's wearing her Plumbs and Silver earrings. How adorable is she?

Thank you Jen. Your surprise earrings are on their way.

Next. A few new items in the shop this week...

Ring of Fire Necklace

Tart Earrings

Clairvoyant Necklace

Finally, today I just barely caught my self on the front page. ♥ I got a quick screen shot, then went to check my views. When I clicked back to the FP again, it was gone. A closer look, and there I was again. What a lucky lady am I. For some reason, only my first screen shot got uploaded. Maybe the Flickr group will post it later on.

Here is the one that I got. I was an alternate in this treasury. Luckily something sold and I lucked out. Thank you Hint, for the lovely collection.

So there it is. All my good intentions rolled into one. Stay tuned for a jewelry giveaway coming soon.

Super Model

2009-01-09T00:46:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in my last post that any of my customers can get a free pair of earrings if they send me a photo of themselves wearing my jewelry. Mary Ann, one of my fantastic customers was kind enough to share a photo of herself wearing my Moonlight Earrings. How fabulous does she look! Thank you Mary Ann.

I would love to see more. The free earrings offer is ongoing. (see previous blog post).

To My Fabulous Customers

2008-12-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

Attention All Past, Present, and Future customers: send me a photo of yourself wearing any Glass Onion jewelry, and I'll send you a free pair of earrings. The photo can be of you or anyone, just so long as they are wearing jewelry purchased from my shop. The free earrings will be a surprise, but you can expect something typical of what you might find for sale in my shop. All photos I receive will be posted to my blog. *One free pair per customer please.

Send your photos to

mailglassonion@gmail.com
or at my Etsy shop,
or even include your photo in a comment here on my blog.

Be sure to include your name or Etsy username, a little description of what your wearing (in case I can't tell), and the shipping address to send your free earrings.

Dear Santa

2008-12-21T19:23:00.000-08:00

I take full advantage of the months before Christmas, by reminding my daughter that Santa doesn't come to the naughty kids houses. Last night at the grocery store, she couldn't keep her hands off everything in reach. One quick reminder that it wasn't too late to give Santa a call and tell him that he needs to double check his list, was all it took. She kept her hands to herself, and was perfectly behaved while we finished shopping. Santa is always good for getting kids to behave. Oh the innocence.

I'm pretty sure I am still on his good list too. In case Santa reads my blog, I thought I'd make it easy for him. Here is my list Santa.

tiny golden honeyed dots necklace by eRosasjewelry Giraffe print by BerkleyIllustrations curl necklace by GemmaFactrix
ruffly blue shirt by larimeloom teabag teaspoon cup and saucer by baileydoesntbark butterfly quicksilver mobile by royalbuffet
illumination print by ara133photography birch in teal clutch by thelaughingmoose bespoke map heart by bombus