The Philosopher's Stones

Deep thoughts, beads & baubles!

  • 21st November
    2011
  • 21

Awesome fix for cheap jewelry!

I totally wish I could take credit for this but I can’t. I found it here. I’m so suprised that I didn’t think of this though because I use clear nail polish for EVERYTHING when I’m making jewelry. Dammit. Stupid smart people in front of me.

Anyway the tip is so simple! If you have sensitive skin (like me) that turns green when you even look at cheap metal, coat your cheap but pretty jewelry with clear nail polish. You’ll get more wear out of the piece itself and you won’t get that irritating mark from the metal.

Genius! And again I repeat, dammit. I wish I would have thought of this first.
  • 8th November
    2011
  • 08
am.: How To Buy High Quality Makeup Without Going Broke!

Now, I know this isn’t technically DIY or crafting or jewelry information but I do love good budgeting advice, especially when it is practical and about something that I actually buy! Plus, this chick’s blog is pretty cool in general.

annamarie:

Makeup is expensive, like way too expensive. I’m a makeup artist, so I have a lot of it, but that doesn’t mean that you need a lot of it. Owning as much makeup as I own would be crazy, trust me. For some, dropping 50 bucks on Chanel bronzer is worth it, while others might think this is insane,…

  • 3rd November
    2011
  • 03
  • 1st November
    2011
  • 01

I’m a liar

I do have pictures of my quilt fabric and I will post them soon but! I have a really good excuse for getting distracted this time. Christmas is coming up and thus the art fair/Christmas bazaar is happening at my school in a few weeks. I had originally planned NOT to sell jewelry because I hadn’t been making enough to fill a table. But over the past few days I’ve had a ton of people asking me if I was planning on it because they wanted to buy Christmas presents from me. Being one never to shy away from flattery I promptly set into making a ton of jewelry for the sale. So far I’ve made some cute (easy to reproduce and mass-produce) jewelry that I will (hopefully) post pictures of as I go. Because i am in a rush, I don’t plan on doing a tutorial but it’s all easy to figure out and if you have questions about a piece I can spell it out for you.

Oh! Most exciting! I am currently reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the first time and in honor of this I have made some very cool golden snitch necklaces (and one silver snitch because I don’t wear gold).

  • 18th October
    2011
  • 18

Dearest Tumblr Buddies

Please forgive my long absence. I’ve been slammed with school work lately and I’ve been doing nothing interesting in the way of jewelry making or DIY’ing (mostly fixing my mom’s broken jewelry and making a bracelet here or there).

However! I am excited to announce that tomorrow I will begin an endeavor into a new realm of crafting! (Nicki if you’re reading this, try not to laugh yourself out of your seat) I am going to learn how to sew! Specifically how to quilt.

Now, before you call me a little old lady, hear me out. I actually got this idea from a little old lady: my Grammy. Grammy is one of the most talented sewists I’ve ever encountered (the other is my best friend). She started quilting about a year ago because it was “easy and relaxing.” God help me, but I cannot fathom why she thinks quilting is easy. All her quilts are 1. beautiful and 2. uber complicated. But I guess quilting doesn’t involve fitting clothing to a body or coming up with any real creative way around a problem the way that making clothing or roman shades do.

She assured me that quilting (especially for beginners) only involves being able to use measuring tape (check.), pick matching colors and patterns (sometimes), cut in a straight line (uhm…), and do a simple straight stitch on a sewing machine (no.), but that I could learn all of this easily. Thus tomorrow we are going shopping to pick out my first set of quilting fabrics (I’ll post pictures as I go but don’t expect a tutorial any time soon). Below is the beginner’s pattern and the link to the site if anyone is interested. Wish me luck!

Claudia’s Quilt Shoppe Absolute Beginners Big Block

 Pattern

 In color (this is not the coloring I will be using)

  • 17th September
    2011
  • 17
  • 15th September
    2011
  • 15
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14
  • 14th September
    2011
  • 14