Webpage move!

Hi All,

Just a quick note to say that the Papaver Jewelry website/URL is closing! But don’t fear, you can find the exact same site at www.papaverstudio.com, just click on the “papaver jewelry” link on the main page.

My brother (aka, tech support) has spent months trying to get them to lower the price of my jewelry webpage, which was bought and built years ago, in the age before the six dollar a month webpage. For whatever reason, we can’t get the price down, and I see no point in paying for it anymore!

In the coming months there may be more changes here, as my life moves in a different direction than it had been. More working on the house and at the job, less time and energy for jewelry production! I’m still working out what I want to do, but I will figure it out!

Thanks, Maggie

Papaver Studio webpage is up!

Yes, indeed it is! Whew, that was ALOT of work. Alot of picture taking, and typing and doodling out possible page layouts and just in general making myself crazy trying to make sure everything is on there that I needed. Days of doing that. But I like it. I like how its turning out. Its pretty basic, because I am no page designer, but its functional. And well, I can pretend that I like the spare look. I mean, I do, but its not the way it would look if I, ya know, knew what I was doing.

So please go check it out! My brother set me up with a google voice account, so I can have my work calls routed through there. They even get transcribed into emails so that I don’t have to listen to the calls if I don’t want to! A-freaking-mazing. Technology is good right now for those of us who have less than stellar phone answering skills. I mean, I will answer if I know the number calling, but if I don’t — well, its most likely someone wanting to sell me something.

My new website is called Papaver Studio. It encompasses the Tigerpup Embroidery, and Papaver Jewelry. I called it Studio just in case I come up with something else I want to make! I figure if I have a “papaver studio” sign above my studio door, than the stuff that comes out of it is from there! The page is in its first draft, I’ve already found things that I need to change! But its about 95% there I think. I hope.

I really like how the Tigerpup Embroidery patterns are turning out. I think I may be most proud of them of all the things I have come up with in my life. Its like they are turning out fully realized. Unlike the jewelry which I feel like it is constantly getting better, always tweaked, these patterns are kinda perfect. That’s not to say they won’t improve and evolve, its just, dang, so nice. It does help that they were a much simpler product to create, but still, I am happy with them.

Sorry if this post doesn’t make perfect sense, I am typing with “black hawk down” blasting in the background. Brandon is in the mood for some war movies after watching “julie and julia” which he did really enjoy, just well, no explosions. It would be easier to type to though!

Anyway, off to the beach for a few days with the Idle Hands Ladies Auxiliary. Should be tons of fun. We’ve got lots of crafts to do if the weather is bad (well, that doesn’t really matter), dogs to run on the beach, and kids to play with. Oh, and the guys to get drunk with. We’ve got lots of home-infused vanilla vodka to drink!

cheers, maggie

Papaver Jewelry Webpage Update!

Yep, updated the ol‘ page this weekend. Whew, its always intense to do, especially when its an all day affair. I had to create a bunch of new shopping cart features, and all the new teeny tiny charms. And then I decided to redo the pictures, so I took photos, edited them, and plunked them in. So the pics with the polkadots are just going to have to be updated as I make new inventory, cause those ones are sold!

And my brother came over and showed me how to upload my stuff to the Internet so now I can update the site as often as I want! Before I would do a bunch of stuff, and then have to get it to him to put online. I think he has a very low opinion of my computer abilities. And while hes not wrong, I can learn!

So go to my page and see whats new and different! And let me know if I should change something, I’ve already found a few things just looking at it before writing this blog post!

Maggie

Papaver Website Updated!

Whew, after like 30 hours of working on it, the webpage is updated and rather fantastic, I think. Go and check it out! My three new lines that I’ve been frantically working on are listed. Two are my new mixed metals lines “ocean line-r” and “no place like home.” They are all shown above! the Ocean Liner line is kind of like a cruise ship of my favorite sea animals. I love me some sea creatures! I can’t wait to add more, got lots o’ ideas. and the no place like home line is full of things around my house. so there are chickens, fruit trees, a house, clouds… and more to come as the mood strikes! My last new line is the felty friends page, which is sporting needle felted creations by me! There are some ADORABLE felted birds there, and cupcakes (yum) and polkadoted balls. More to come again, as the mood strikes! So go and check ‘em out! Maggie

Silversmithing!

So yesterday I was talking to Iris (random side story, she was in a store last week and found another best friend duo named Iris and Maggie, and while Iris was also tall and blond, Maggie didn’t resemble me so much, but weird, huh?) and she told me about this 10 week silversmithing class out in Newburg, pretty close to where she lives (Dundee). I said, hey, that sounds like the one that PCC offers that I’ve been tempted to take for the last three years but haven’t cause its in freaking Newburg. She says why yes, that is the class, but you can take it without signing up through said PCC, and thereby save money. Okay, that’s just the gist of the conversation, she doesn’t really say “thereby” but I like that word and well, more people should use it.

She gives me the info, I hang up and immediately call the number. The class isn’t full, and well, heck, she doesn’t even require that you pay some money upfront, you can just pay when you get there! How rad is that? I woke up all excited about it this morning, kinda like I just realized in my sleep that I will learn how to use a torch and solder properly, use the jewelry saw like a pro (instead of a bumbling beginner, which is me) and even pull my own wire! I guess you could say that I feel like this is going to open up all sorts of options for me, many which sound expensive.

I’ve already got ideas for making bezels to fit glass that has had my drawings printed and fused onto them… Something I just started playing with (the decals, I mean, not the bezels).

So the cogs in my brain are turning, and while I hate school with all my heart (I am a very bad student, I hate the word “class” cause it means that I have to be somewhere for set hours with a teacher, Its kinda like having a job, but at least there you get paid for the hours you spend there), I am willing to give it a go. Cause really, where else will I learn this stuff? And Iris will be there, and we aren’t getting graded (I was good at getting the grades, just bad at being in class). And perhaps I can just head on down to hang out in Dundee first, and the dogs can play. Marcus’ doggie girlfriend Rosie lives out there, and he can never really get enough of her. So maybe I’ll just leave him there to hang with Rosie while we go to class, sounds pretty good to me!

So keep an eye out for some new stuff in the coming year from Papaver Jewelry, should be great!

Improved Website!

So I have spent literally days in the last few weeks working on improving my webpage for shopping. Days people. And I think it is in a pretty good place right now. A few minor kinks to work out here and there, but pretty darn nice looking. There is a shopping cart now, and drop down menus for glass color, chain preferences, and even charm finishes! its freaking awesome, and I would very much like it if you all clicked on my papaver website link on the side of this page and visited it and tried it out (you don’t have to buy anything, just make up combos and add it to the cart, you can delete it at the end!) to make sure it works right!

I am pretty darn happy with it, please let me know what you think!
Maggie

On a Rainy Portland Day

What more does a girl need on a rainy Portland day than a warm fire, a latte, and somewhat maudlin girly rock on her Pandora radio station? Nothing, that’s what. On rainy afternoons there is nothing I like better than having the house to myself, girly music turned up really loud, and getting some work or cleaning done. If thats kinda weird, well then that’s okay. Cause that really is one of my favoritest things in the world. Another one is a stormy night with the fire going, (a fire is a common theme among my favoritest things) Brandon, me and Marcus (the dog) all piled up on the couch with blankets and hot tea, watching a movie. Ahh, I love my house.

So this has been a busy week! I had an emergency Christmas pin order from Made in Oregon to get out as quickly as possible, and two new largish pendant orders to knock out. Those are sitting half finished on my work table right now, I am taking a break. The Made in Oregon order got out this morning. On Monday I get to start on the regular Made in Oregon order that got pushed back by the emergency one! Yay! I like being busy, and it seems that all my busyness is happening at once!

Brandon hurt his leg in a freak fence jumping incident on Monday, so he spent Tuesday and Wednesday at home working for me (perfect timing!). And because he was home working I got to finally create some new glass jewelry designs for 2008!! You have no idea what a relief it is to finally get that done!

So here are some of them. Feel free to let me know what you think of them. So it’s just two, but today I am at the saturday market (its now sunday, not friday) and the free wi-fi while free, is not fast!

The first one is a brass swallow pendant. I used hydrochloric acid on it to get the aged patina, and it has a tiny birdie friend that hangs down the back of your neck!

And this one is the Crabby Pendant. He was made the same way, but his silver wire was also dipped in acid, and his little companion is a silly seahorse. I think I really like giving the main charm a tiny friend.There are more pieces in this line, a pair of earrings with a bird on one side and a nest on the other, a pair with keyholes, and one with tiny silver bees. I’m having a great time making more involved, one-of-a-kind glass pieces.

So ta-ta for now, if I get really bored later today I may blog again!
Maggie

Papaver on Makool Loves You!

So I made some little animal friends for my friend Anisa’s online store last week. Shes only been asking me for them for a year! Sometimes it takes a while for my inspiration to strike. Also, sometimes it takes a while for all the pieces to come together, and well, my little critter whimseys take alot of pieces of things to make! I need to have alot of tiny things to choose from to make something. Nothing is better than having a work table full of assorted junk (mismatched dishes, trim, buttons, gitter, and knick knacs to name some junk) to make a treasure out of!

So Makool Loves You has some critters. Two cats, a deer, and a dog. Doug Dog, in fact, and he is a digger! To learn more about them, and see alot of great pictures of them, visit www.makoollovesyou.com. They are listed under animal friends. And while you are there, check out her birdies, they are adorable, and also incidentally, all sold. I will be making more animals as supplies become available, right now i have half finished: a pair of circus performers, an adorable pink and blue turtle, and a golden snail with purple rhinestone eyes.

She is also trying out a tiny bit of jewelry. I’m planning on making some more, one-of-a-kind jewelry for Makool too, something a bit old-fashioned and a little bit macabre…just what she wants!

So check out Makool Loves You! Its awesome!