Weekly Challenge 2: Use a product you have never used before

I have been grappling with a custom order for a month now.  A mom-friend sent me 11 coins and wanted them made into a necklace.  The first idea she had was a no go.  She had found a pin on Pinterest and wanted me to come up with a bib style necklace.  The original pin had the crafter using felt for the backdrop.  The weight of the coins made it impossible for this to work.  I experimented with some crafting type coins and felt.  Yes, dear friends, for any type of wear ability -- this is NOT GOING TO WORK!!!

http://kreativnostivana.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/vintage-ogrlica/diy-vintage-buttons-necklace-2-vert/

I was having issues with the design.  The coins were too heavy just to stack on top of one another in a design or just to have the edges glued together.  I needed something with bit of femininity  but still use the coins in a pretty way.  I kept envisioning those coin belt buckles of the 1970's-80's.   Yeah, not really digging that either. 

Then, boom!  Filigree!  (Mmmmm... my three past jewelry posts have been about filigree...)  and a scary thing called E-6000 epoxy adhesive.  I had never used E-6000, but had added it my arsenal of jewelry making supplies.  I decided to incorporate the 6 pennies and the 3 quarter sized silver toned coins.  All the larger coins had an image of Queen Elizabeth II (I think...) on them.  

This has been a fun project.  E-6000 is an really user friendly epoxy.  If you have ever used epoxy or resin, these products can have minds of their own.  The best clean up to use with it is baby wipes.  The hardest part of using E-6000 is you have work slowly and in layers.  I did glue the coins to the filigree and to each other in one day.  12 - 24 hours after that, I glued the backing filigrees on.  12-24 hours after that, I glued one side together.  The final day, I glued the other side together.

With this project, I have learned and awesome new technique and fell in love with E-6000.  My design options are endless.  I am only limited by my own fear.  Why I fear anything with creativity  is beyond me.  

My Etsy News!

I am having a BUSY, but fun week. I have received 2 Etsy orders. One was just a simple necklace to New York. The other order was my first wholesale earring order. My little "It's a Boy!!!" "It's a Girl!!!" earrings will be debuting at "A Star Is Born- 3D Ultrasound Studio" in Riviera Beach, Florida! My goal for my Etsy Site is to get $100 in orders this month. So far, I am at $76. For me and the over saturated Etsy jewelry market, this is a great month and to reach $100 is going to be hard. I still need to get my studio in working order. I would be able to be more focused and get plans and designs going better.
http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.242411569.jpg

I have made another Etsy Milestone for me. I made a Treasury (I believe that this is what spawned Pinterest, a collection of items from Etsy with a theme) and it has received the most "Clicks" and "Admirers" for any Treasury I have ever done. And it is not one of the most viewed Treasuries I have made. Check it out!!! http://www.etsy.com/treasury/ODU0NDIxOHwyMDc5Mzc3MDY4/the-one-that-got-away?ref=pr_treasury

If you haven't yet, look to the right -----} And go to my Facebook page for either KABbeading or Votre Vu (heck, just go to both) and click "Like!!!!" Every 50 increment "like" milestone, I will do a giveaway here on my blog. (Too many rules for a Facebook Giveaway.) I am at 124 for KABbeading....

I am feeling good. I have even started doing sit-ups. (GASP!!!!) The mom-group I am a part of started the fitness challenge. I think they got it off of Pinterest, but as a novice workout gal, it seems easy enough. You start out the month doing:
X - Push-ups
X - Sit-ups
X - seconds Planking
And everyday work your way up.
I almost died, when I couldn't complete 5 Sit-ups the first day..... I am currently at 12 reps of each. I knew I was out of shape, but this is ridiculous! Push-ups are an awesome all around exercise. I feel it all the way up and down my body. Hubby is joking that I will be rocking a bikini in Florida. I wouldn't go that far....

I am still working on my other goals and plans. Feels good to look and see things happening because of planning and working on "me."

Have you started your 5-Goal Plan yet?