Up On The Roof

I'm getting excited about my upcoming jewelry show.  The date is set (Thursday, September 16), the flier is in the final design phase, and I've started a to-do list.  It's often the hardest thing when planning an event to find a venue, but this turned out to be the easiest thing and literally right under my nose (or perhaps more properly over my head).  Anyhow, the venue is up on the roof of my apartment building, and I wanted to share some photos to show you why I'm particularly excited.

The roof didn't start out looking this way.  This apartment building was originally built in 1964,  and before that was once the site of the childhood home of John Reed, Portland journalist and author of "Ten Days That Shook The World"  (and for you movie buffs, "Reds" starring Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton was based on Reed's life). Forty-four or so years of Portland weather had taken its toll on the roof before the current owner completely renovated the building a couple of years ago and did a really gorgeous job with the roof. 

 

I'm trying hard not to get too far ahead of myself, keeping the to-do list close at hand, but I don't have too much trouble envisioning a jewelry show up on the roof, although I hope people won't be so distracted by the fabulous Portland views that they will forget to look at my jewelry.

And The Winner Is

Good morning! After using a random number generator (random.org), the winner of the jewelry giveaway is (drum roll) lucky #5, Saphyreplatypus. Congratulations! Be sure to e-mail me at earringopia@q.com with your address, and I'll get your necklace and earrings sent out to you as soon as possible!

How Earringopia Got Started

A few months ago, probably in April or May, I was browsing in a Goodwill store and found a candleholder festooned with streams of autumn-colored chandelier-like beads. The candleholder by itself was not to my taste, and I understood why it had been donated to Goodwill.  However, the strands of chandelier-type beads set off something like a photo flash in my mind, highlighting the caption "there are 12 good pairs of earrings there" that popped up.   I was a little bit startled at first, but without hesitation grabbed the candleholder and ponied up $2.99 to the cashier. 

The funniest thing was that I had taken jewelry-making classes in high school and also made and sold earrings in college for mad money.  However, I didn't even think about those two facts until I got home because I was just wrapped up in deconstructing this candleholder to get at those beads.  I then realized I had zilch in the way of jewelry-making supplies (pliers, earring hooks, jump rings, etc.).  I found a crafter's pliers set at Walgreeen's for $3.99 (Walgreen's???, who knew!!), which warmed my money-saving heart to no end.  I also ordered the earring hooks and other accoutrement from an onsite jewelry supplier based here in Oregon (Fire Mountain Gems). 

While I was waiting for the supplies to arrive, I deconstructed the candleholder for the beads, no mean feat I can tell you, but like a dope I didn't take pictures of that process.  Finally, everything came together, and I made 12 pairs of earrings.  This was entirely a creative outlet for me until I showed a pair to my best friend, Vangie, who immediately said, "you should sell those."  Of course, that set off another photo flash in my head, but I let it float out into my idea-mulling thought stream to jostle around and show me what to do.  This also all occurred while I was signing a new lease on my apartment, and as a thank you to my really wonderful apartment manager, Hearther, I gave her a pair of those earrings.  She then immediately went on to buy three more pairs and recommended me to friends and family.  It was then apparent I should open an Etsy store and at least have that out there where I could get some exposure and sales. 

Here is a photo of the famous first pair of earrings:

As thanks for reading all about me, I want to turn the spotlight on you and have a jewelry give-away of this prettty matching necklace and earring set in colors just in time for autumn:

The necklace chain is about 11.5 inches long and has a lobster claw clasp and can be made shorter by moving the clasp up or down the portion of extender chain.  The pierced earrings are post style.  This set has lovely deep rich autum colors of gold and deep amber red.

All you have to do to enter this jewelry set giveaway is to leave a comment on the blog until midnight Friday, August 13 (we'll make Friday the 13th a lucky day).  The winner will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail, so please be sure to leave the e-mail address you use most commonly for ease of contact.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Any questions about this giveaway? I can be reached through my Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/Earringopia or on Twitter at @earringopia