…Pale, Cool…, originally uploaded by antigenre.

Promoting my new treasury!! Take a look, and check out the shops of the wonderful artists featured here.

Just click HERE or on the image above!

Tools!, originally uploaded by antigenre.

I’ve recently been on a bit of a buying spree for tools and reference material. I just purchased this terrific set of metal stamps from Evie’s Tool Emporium, and came back from a trip to Metalliferous with a starter collection of dapping tools. Also, after ignoring the advice of people who really do know what they’re talking about for too long, I finally ordered a copy of Tim McCreight’s Complete Metalsmith. It arrived yesterday, and I’ve only given it a quick glance-through, but I’m already thrilled with how clear the step-by-step process are and how well it is answering some of my basic technical questions.

Also, and totally unrelated, I snagged a Treasury West today quite by chance. The thumbnails below are just a few of the beautiful items included.  Click HERE to take a look at the whole collection!!

Citronne, originally uploaded by antigenre.

I found these lovely vintage glass beads today at my local bead supply store. They are a pale lemon-y lime-y color, and I thought they could be used to make something light and summery for my shop. I had a difficult time, though, photographing them because the background colors I was using all made them look a bit gross. I would use white or a pale cream, but whatever photo I go with still has to blend in with the rest of the shop. I ran out of light and just threw this polka-dotted paper down for fun. I actually like it!

Corsico Set, originally uploaded by antigenre.

Since summer is now upon us, I thought I should brighten up my jewelry collection with a bit of color. I’ve just recently started playing around with patinas on my brass and copper pieces, and I am loving the results! It is an interesting process and seems to require a bit of patience with letting each layer dry so the color can come out.

The Corsico ring and earrings are among my first offerings - now available at AntiGenre on Etsy -  and I have plenty more ideas to start work on.

All the Cool Hues!, originally uploaded by antigenre.

After three or four days of scorching hot weather, the heat finally broke last night - and it broke with a bang! Parts of New Jersey were slammed with heavy rain and high winds. At least it is a bit cooler, and my energy is starting to return. This means I might actually get some work done tonight!

To celebrate the return to somewhat managable weather, I put together a treasury of fabulously cool items in beautiful and refreshing blues and greens from the members of EtsyNJ, the official New Jersey Street Team at Etsy. Click here to take a look at what the Garden State has to offer! This list will be around until the wee hours of Saturday morning.

The Beach!, originally uploaded by antigenre.

As much as I thought I should stay home and catch up on my sales sheets and other yucky administrative work, there really was no way that I could NOT go to the beach yesterday. It was about 137 degrees Fahrenheit (well, at least 92), so gettin’ to the shore wasn’t an option. The water was punishingly cold, but once the pain in my limbs subsided, I actually enjoyed floating around in the waves. I think that the water will be the perfect temperature in about a month, if that. I can’t wait to go back!

Well, I applied again to Trunkt last night and was finally accepted.  For now, I have only the basic portfolio and will probably stick to that, even though it only lets me upload three products.  I’m not sure if the standard and premium packages are worth the price.  Still, my basic package looks a bit spare, so maybe I’ll consider upgrading in the future. 

For now, though, take a look at my new Trunkt portfolio featuring some of my best-selling necklaces and one pair of earrings from my new Buckshot Series!

Yum!, originally uploaded by antigenre.

I had a fantastic visit with my husband’s family in Toronto at the end of May. We celebrated the birth of a new niece and several other birthdays, including his grandmother’s 85th.

One of the best things about Toronto is all the food. I live in Princeton, NJ, which has approximately 2 good restaurants. Well, maybe there are a few more than that, but the restaurant scene is dominated by overpriced, hoitier-than-toitier joints with bland American/Continental cuisine. So to have access to very good food from around the world is so nice!

We spent part of an afternoon wandering around Kensington Market - this photo was taken in front of the place with the ridiculously good Jamaican patties.

(On a side note, I just noticed the reflection in the glass of all the people in the street in this shot.  Reminds me of scenes from, oh… I don’t know, Shaun of the Dead, maybe??)

Art Star Set Up, originally uploaded by antigenre.

Last weekend was the big Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia! Despite the wild weather on Saturday, I think there was a fairly good turnout and my sales were pretty good overall. I’ll definitely apply for it again next year. It was a bit of a learning experience for me, in terms of preparation and set-up - I need to figure out how to windproof my whole display! Fortunately, though, there were no disasters.

Many thanks to everyone who stopped by and said hello!

So I’ve decided to pull out of the big street festival that is happening this Sunday in Highland Park, NJ.  Late last night, I brought out all the inventory that I had set aside for both this fair and for Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia at the end of the month.  I was absolutely shocked at how little I have prepared.  I have just enough for the one-day fair this weekend.  The problem is that I’m heading to Toronto for a week fairly soon and, if I were to sell a lot this weekend, would not have the time to replenish my inventory with enough for the much larger, two-day event in Philly.   Ugh.  Oh well.  As I sit here and snack on the $125 entry fee that I have to eat, I leave you with this beautiful beach photograph from RBurnettJr in the hopes that we have lots of warm, sunny weekends coming up.