New Sweetheart Necklace and Ice!

This morning I posted my new sweetheart necklace for '09. A perfect size floating heart pendant. Handcrafted from sterling silver. This design is similar to a heart pendant I have created before. The overlap at the clef of the heart makes it unique and gives it a bit of dimension. This heart is a free floating heart so it may hang at times from either arch of the heart or sometimes even up side down. The necklace is completed with a 16 inch sterling silver cable link chain. Chain closes with a spring ring closure, all jump rings have been soldered closed. Really gorgeous! thinking of making one for myself. head on over and check it out.


We had a bit of rain and ice yesterday. Not nearly as bad as the ice storm last winter but the trees were hanging pretty low. Luckily we did not have any power outages in the area that I have heard. I took a photo of our poor butterfly bush encased in ice. Although there is a sort of beauty in this photo, I can't wait till spring...
xoxo
JuliaCatherine

Oh Yes The Holidays Have Begun...

Yesterday afternoon into the evening I printed shipping labels, set up and packed the second half of my orders from last weekend. I was so happy my sale was such a success. Thank you everyone! So That was my task yesterday afternoon and evening.

Next for me it was making thank you notes for my orders. A long time ago I decided to start making my own instead of buying them. It's alot less expensive especially when you have a high order volume. I like to buy something called "luxury stack" which is a smaller size stack of pearlized gorgeous papers from my local craft store, ACMoore. These measure 6 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 if i remember correct. I use my cutter and scorer that I have purchased a long time ago for my personal use for making cards for friends and family as well as scrapbooking! I cut them in half lengthwise around 3 1/4 inches then score them across the middle at about 2 1/4 inches. I then take my nifty stamp, ink it up and stamp the entire stack with the word 'thank you'. After they all dry i go back and fold them in half and put and elastic around them.

The entire stack of 'luxury papers' costs me about $10. This last time i managed to be at my local store on a day they were having a sale, so this last time they were $6. Just a little time and effort on my part and voila! I have about 300 thank you cards. Lasts me awhile!

Last night was a busy night for me! For dinner I hadn't put out anything for the meat eaters earlier that day so it was going to be a meatless dinner (yay) I wanted a baked potato but that wouldn't have been enough of a full meal for the meateaters. I thought if i made it a soup that would count!
Baked Potato Soup!
5 large russet potatoes
1 rib celery diced
1 medium sweet onion diced
2 cloves garlic, smashed and diced
1 tsp kosher salt
3 dashes ceyenne pepper
half a brick of cheddar shredded
Boulion cube for 1 cup- chicken i guess for meat eaters? I use Vegetaable
a small bag of broccoli-cook in the micro till done
3 cups milk
3 Tbls flour
3-4Tbls oil (olive i love)
1 cup reserved potato cooking liquid
Cooked and crumbled fake or real bacon
I peeled, cut and cleaned all my potatoes and cut them into bite sized pieces, then put them in a pot barely covered with water. Boil till potatoes are tender to your liking. In another larger pot i heated my oil over MEd hi heat then put my diced onion, celery and garlic. Sautee for a couple minutes then add your kosher salt. If your using regular salt use less. When your onions are translucent add your flour and mix it all together, break up the lumps. You will start making a roux this way. Slowly add your milk. It will be really thick till you get nearly 2 cups in the pot, i would say. Adding it slowly will prevent lumps! Once you have it all incorporated and brought to a light bubble (keep stiring frequently!) then reduce your heat to med. Add your cheese. Stir it all in. Add your boullion cube to your 1 cup of potato cooking liquid from your potatoes. mix it up. add it to the pot! add in everything else including your cooked broccoli (cut in bite sized pieces) Mix it all up. bring back to med hi heat till its bubbly and then when all your cheese is melted your done! If you like a vitamin B boost add about 3/4 -1 cup of nutritional yeast flakes!
Hope you all enjoy my recipe, im not exactly a recipe writer but im good at coming up with them! Dont forget to sign up for my mailing list to the right>> to receive notifications of great sales and be entered for my giveaway!
xoxo
Julia Catherine

Announcing My First Blog Giveaway!

If you have already subscribed to my mailing list there is no doubt your enjoying the little coupons and tidbits about upcoming sales and new products. But if you haven't subscribed! Your really missing out. Especially now. This month I will be taking all the people who sign up and have signed up for my mailing list and picking one lucky one to win! Enter NOW to the right of this blog post. My mailing list is a double opt in- so you will have to click a link to the email that is sent to you. Once you do that, your smooth sailing! You will also be notified of any future sales and giveaways.

This months giveaway item will be a pair of my most popular Apple Green Drop Earrings. They are a $16 Value. This is absolutely free including free shipping and free shipping on any additional purchases you wish to make from my shop. Just join my mailing list to the right! Winner will be drawn this December 15th!
xoxo
Julia Catherine

Romantic Things...& A Big Thanks!

How romantic are these 2 new items I just listed in my shop today? The first is this 'love note necklace' It is handcrafted from sterling silver and has the word "LOVE" engraved on the front. Its a sweet necklace on its own. My thought/design process before I created it was thinking it would be even more amazing if the back was actually personalized with a love letter or better yet, something like "Will you marry me?" and a date on the back. She could wear her marriage proposal on her neck and remember that moment every time she looks at it. Or maybe something not-so-serious like "Thinking of you always"

The second item is these earrings I call "snow white earrings" they remind me the first real snow of the winter. A certain serene, calm, quietness. They are made from sterling silver handmade findings, 10mm rock crystal beads and white freshwater pearls. They are perfect to wear with nearly everything as they are clear and white.

On a side note! I would like to thank everyone who stopped by Nov 28th-Dec1st for my Black Friday 4 Day Sale. It was an amazing success! To be notified of future sales beforehand sign up for my mailing listing to the right here on my blog! In the future I plan on scheduling giveaways each month for my mailing list members, so get on the list!
xoxo
Julia Catherine

There Baaack! Acorn Earrings 08 Edition!

Just as promised the fall Acorn Earrings are back! This years edition is a bit larger and different from last years. They feature a 12mm faceted smoky glass bead that is capped with an antiqued brass acorn top cap. For a finishing touch i added a vintage swarovski bead in a golden citrine color. The earwires and headpins are sterling silver and are of course handmade by me. The headpins and earwires have also been oxidized to bring together the two metals. These earrings are $18 and are only available at JuliaCatherine.etsy.com for a limited time! Perfect with my favorite fall basic- brown! Brown is my new black.
xoxo
Julia Catherine

New Items!

September 10th. Summer is nearly gone and fall is quickly approaching! Before I know it, its going to be time to go apple picking and make a huge vat of applesauce and 2,000 apple pies!

I have created a special necklace especially for fall this year. The fall leaf necklace. I have taken a vintage brass leaf stamping and refurbished it just like new. Brass is an amazing metal composed mainly of copper so now it shows that warm brass color. The chain is sterling silver and is connected using sterling silver rings which are soldered closed for security. The chain has been oxidized and sanded in spots to create contrast.

The second new creation for fall is the filigree bowl ring. This piece is also created from brass and sterling. I have taken a piece of vintage filigree, carefully formed it into a bowl shape. I forged a sterling silver ring for the band. I used the same band as my thicker stackable band rings. Then carefully joined the two pieces to create this statement piece. Both have been polished to a bright shine! Also available in oxidized finish as well. Each of these rings is handmade each time it is ordered. So that means, whatever size you need is possible!

For those who loved them last year or missed them last year. The fall acorn earrings will be making a comeback very soon. I am also working on a new incarnation of holiday earrings for the upcoming season.

More new items to take a look at. Large Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings- Available in any size, just contact me. 7mm Hammered Sterling Silver Band- Made to order in any size. The Apple Green Drop Earrings-Have also become a staple in my shop, now with sterling silver and available all year round!

Thanks so much for coming back and reading, hope to see you soon!
xoxo
Julia Catherine

Gifts for your childs KEEP teacher, YMCA counselor or other daycare.

For the people who have the job of taking care of your children all year round. The YMCA counselors, KEEP teachers and other daytime caregivers/ babysitters. There are a ton of items that they would love from JuliaCatherine.etsy.com but you can understand most of these items may not be child friendly.

These are people you may not chat with alot but want to get them something nice. Do they wear earrings? If so I would like to suggest the leafy bits earrings. They dangle a modest 1 inch, and are very petite otherwise. These are probably best for caregivers of school age children.

For caregivers of younger children a bracelet may be a better idea for worktime. This gorgeous bracelet made with round faceted brown and red glass beads is gorgeous and doesnt have alot of charms or any things that could risk hurting baby.

Of course you don't need to buy her something she can wear to work. Caregivers have lives outside of caring for our children. Im sure you could find many other things from JuliaCatherine.etsy.com that would be sure to please! And when in doubt JuliaCatherine.etsy.com has Gift certificates! Just shoot me an email at JuliaCatherineJewelry@gmail.com if you would like a denomination that is not listed. Useable on any items in my shop and NO expiration date.

So Busy!

I have been so busy lately with getting ready for the holiday season I have barely had a chance to blog about anything new. I made a necklace yesterday that i just HAD to blog about though. Its an artisan piece that i handcrafted. It's Very Exciting!Please stop on by to JuliaCatherine.etsy.com and take a peek.
This wonderful necklace is made from a 1 inch by 3/4 of any inch piece of sterling silver sheet with holes that are reminiscent of a saxophone or musical note. It has been brushed to give it a lovely matte finish. The very unique pendant measures 1 inch by 3/4 of an inch. The necklace is 17 inches long and is sterling silver cable/tiffany style chain. It closes with a spring ring closure. This item is handmade right here in the USA. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Item of the Day 11/22/07 Thanksgiving!

Today's Item of the day is this really pretty angel wings necklace. Only available at Juliacatherine.etsy.com This necklace is 18" inches 43.2 cm long made from vintage goldtone chain and brass wings. I have put a gorgeous black patina on the brass wings to bring out all the little details. They show very nicely. I have taken this 18 inch chain and dangled each wing from it. The one hangs shorter at about 2 inches long or 4.8cm The longest hangs 3 1/2 inches or 8.4cm down. This necklace is embellished with 4 swarovski crystal briolettes and closes with an antiqued brass lobster claw closure. A very nice necklace to keep the angels with you always. It is regularly priced at $38 but for today only it will be $34. Till 7am tomorrow. You can purchase this item by going to JuliaCatherine.etsy.com or go directly to this listing by clicking the photo. Type "Angelblog" in at checkout and get free shipping on this item. Just make sure to wait for a revised invoice before paying with paypal! Thanks for reading and having a Happy Thanksgiving!

Item of the Day 11/19/07

Todays item of the day at JuliaCatherine.etsy.com is this luxurious pair of 11mm swarovski pearls in a deep burgandy color each earring has a deep purple vintage crystal dangling from it. These earrings dangle just over 1 1/2 inches or 3.6cm from handmade goldtone wires which are extended on the back to add drama to both sides of the ear. These earrings are regularly priced at $15 but today only are $13. Click the photo to the left to go straight to the listing. These come packaged in a white gift box with a signature red ribbon, ready for gift giving. Type "blogger" in your notes to seller at checkout and get free US shipping on this item today only. Please wait for a revised invoice from paypal before paying. Remember this item is only available by going to JuliaCatherine.etsy.com

My newest (most favorite) Creation.

My newest creation at JuliaCatherine.etsy.com is this Filigree flower necklace that I have embellished with czech glass crystals and a small yellow vintage flower bead in the center. The centerpiece of the necklace is actually a pin i have found while i was antiquing in a nearby town. I have taken the pin, which i believe to be brass and removed the pin finding from the back. Then i took this pendant and gave it a nice dark patina. After all this i burnished it with a metal bristle brush to give it a nice shine. I then added a chain and the other beads. The result is this gorgeous necklace. Whats old is now new again!