seven days and counting

In a week I will be flying to San Diego to hang out with my dear family and also be a vendor at the Queen Bee Market in Carlsbad.  To say that I am excited is an understatement!  .  

First off, I get to hang with my awesome mom (and dad) and sisters.  Secondly, I get to be a vendor at a market that I have been admiring for a few years now.  Thirdly, I am going to be hanging out in So. Cal during November and you can't beat that!

  I have been soldering so much that as a friend once asked, "do you have fingerprints any more?"  I may have slight lines left on my fingers.  I usually have a few Band Aids on my hands at any given time with cuts from the glass or burns.  After soldering for about four years, I still tend grab the iron the wrong way or touch solder before it cools when I am trying to go fast.  It's a fun, yet crazy hobby.  I have learned to say nicer words when I burn or cut myself.  That's not always easy!

 There are over 70 vendors with hand made items.  That just amazes me.  I am excited to shop myself.  There are plenty of shops I have been admiring on Instagram over the months and I am finally get to see their awesome stuff in person.  

   So, if you live in the So. California area (it's in Carlsbad        to be exact), I would love for you to come to the Queen Bee Market. 

new charms, a new business and my specialty

So it turns out that blogging isn't my specialty.  I thought that once all of my kids were in school, that might change.  I guess I am better at making things in my pajamas during the day rather than writing about them. Hence, the intermittent radio silence over the last few years! 

But, here are a few charms that I have been working on over the past couple of weeks:

But, I still enjoy popping in to say hello although I am aware that there might not be many out there to say hello back.  So, as long as you (or even I) take me as I am, I am okay with my pace.  So, I will be here documenting my new soldered jewelry and a few other projects when I can.  

Here's something else that I have been up to lately...

 I have started a new business to go along with amazing mae charms - amazing mae signs:

  etsy shop coming soon!

 

I have burned my fingers and they are raw, but it is so worth it when I get to have a jewelry open house.  So, here's to raw digits!

amazing weekend

  I might over use the word amazing, but sometimes it is the only word I can think to describe certain events or projects in my life. I guess that's why my blog and business have the title "amazing mae" which is named after my daughter who I think is amazing. This past weekend I was able to attend the Snap Blog Conference with my dear friend Melissa of the Polka Dot Chair.

 (notes from SEO class - I need a do over because I didn't understand everything, so I drew.  Reminded me of how I felt in college!)
I didn't know what to expect and in my mind, I was really going as a support to a friend. I did not realize the impact it would have on me and what an eye opening experience it would be to attend. Not to mention, it was so much fun. The classes were helpful and entertaining. They ranged from Photoshop basics to how to succeed in a blog business.

(a project from the new Make and Takes)
I was able to hear Marie LaBaron from Make and Takes and Courtney Dial from Pizzazzerie talk about their new books that had just recently come out and we were given copies of their book as well. My daughter has already gone through the Make and Takes book and planned out two crafts she wanted to make right that minute. I was able to meet bloggers and make some amazing friends that are the women behind these creative blogs. All the ladies that I met were anxious to find out what I was up to and quickly become great people to share ideas with. 

 One of the highlights of the weekend was shopping at The Queen Bee Market that Mique of 30 Handmade Days and her sister Jessica of Allora Handmade put on. They have been doing this in Southern Cali for the past few years and since my family is in San Diego, I have always wanted to visit family and the Queen Bee at the same time. It was awesome. I came home with a few charms from the r house couture and a yellow vinyl case for my camera from Camera Coats. I could have spent way more money if a.) I had it and b.) I had a way to get it all home in one suitcase! 

(my cute nephews swimming in the hotel pool and of course, my yummy meal from In-N-Out Burger)

It didn't hurt that it was at Thanksgiving Point, which is beautiful and close to my extended family and some dear friends. I got to go and visit two sweet friends that used to live here in Louisville. My sister and brother in law and two of their boys came to swim at the hotel pool with me one night. It also didn't hurt that I was able to eat at The Blue Lemon, Kneaders and In-N-Out. Seriously good food. I would go anywhere for good food, but when it's right in front of you (or a 10 min drive), it is so awesome. I was introduced to Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery which I am so glad is not near me or I would gain weight like wild fire. So sweetly divine. Have you tried? I am honestly still on a high and looking forward to attending Snap again next year!  I was able to be with my best friend and meet new friends.  It doesn't get much better than that.

Now I am back to soldering charms for the Kentucky Derby and filling orders that came in while I was away.  Yay!

custom mother's bracelet

I made a bracelet similar to this last year for my mom last year for Mother's Day and one for my mother in law too.

I was excited to make this one a few weeks ago as a custom order.

I haven't added this to my etsy shop yet, but will soon in time for Mother's Day.

Each charm has a child's initial and the birth order number on the other side.

bunnies and chicks in the etsy shop

A little shop update full of bunnies and chicks!

going in the shop this weekend

check out the updates to the shop HERE

charm(s) winner(s) announced

If you knew me really well, you would know that I couldn't just pick one winner. So, I picked two! The WINNER WINNER (the first name my son drew) will win the round beveled LUCKY charm with 18" ball chain! And she is:Michele Steel - who left this comment on my facebook page: Traci you are amazing! I love them all!Now, the RUNNER UP WINNER will get this 1/2" X 1 1/2" so LUCKY charm with a vintage Irish lad on the back and a 24" nickel ball chain. And, she is:

HereIAM who left this comment on the blog: I so love the custom name charm. My 4 babies names are going to look so cute in it. Can't wait to order!

So, ladies, email me your mailing addresses to traciu73@yahoo.com. I am excited to send these out so you will have time to wear them before St. Patrick's Day.

are you feeling LUCKY giveaway

I have been wanting to have a giveaway for awhile now and when I made this charm, I knew it was the perfect one for one LUCKY winner. So, here it goes:

LUCKY SOLDERED CHARM (WITH 18" BALL CHAIN) GIVEAWAY

Here's how you get a chance to win:
1. For one entry, go over to my etsy shop and look around. Then, comment on this post telling me which charm you like.
2. You can get another entry if you leave a comment on Amazing Mae Charms Facebook giveaway post/album.
3. The deadline is Wednesday, February 29th at midnight Eastern time.

new ornament

I always try to add a few new ornaments to our Christmas tree each year that capture a moment from that year. This is a soldered ornament I made from a photo of me, my siblings and my parents taken at my grandfather's funeral this past September. It was so nice to be with them all and I love this photo of us together. Now, I need to make one with a photo of my family from our Disney trip in October.

on my way to a craft show...my first

I have had a few kind friends allow me to use their homes for Open Houses for my jewelry, but I have never been in a craft show. This Saturday will be my first. I am going to be at Christmas in Anchorage here in Louisville, KY. I need to be thinking about how to set up since that's going to go on tonight. Instead, I am on the computer searching for gift ideas. I guess I am nervous, so I am distracting myself. Here are a few new charms I made this morning while I was avoiding other things!

cyber monday is here

I am posting this tonight, Sunday, because I need to run out early in the morning. But, there is a CYBER MONDAY deal in my amazing mae etsy shop and I am happy to offer 10% off your entire purchase. Use the promo code - CM10OFF. That's a 10 (one and zero) and then, OFF.

cyber monday

I am going to be hosting a Cyber Monday deal over at Mique's Thirty Days Blog on Monday, November 28th. If you go to her blog that day, there will be a special deal in my etsy shop for Thirty Day readers. I am excited because I have been working hard on many new charms - in all new shapes and sizes for the shop! Check my facebook page (AmazingMaeCharms)soon for a preview.

soldered halloween ornaments

I made a few of these soldered Halloween ornaments last year for my Halloween tree and decided to make a few more this year. I sent one home with my mom and gave the other to my friend. I still have the two from last year, so the Halloween tree is happy and full.