It is getting closer to moving day!

For those who don't know I am moving back home to the states on the 30th of June. Hubby is coming with children and I to America for my sister's wedding but then will be coming back to England to await paperwork completion. It will be a tough time for all of us but I am looking forward to the freedom you feel when you can drive. I also am looking forward to seeing old friends and being part of a big family again.

Matt's family have been great and very supportive. My kids will miss their cousin's Auntie and Nanny. We will be moving into my parents house at the same time my brother is moving back home. We are lucky that it is a big house however the kids will be sharing and My brother will be living in the basement.

In the meantime I am trying to figure out what to sell, what to take, and what to beg my mother-in-law to keep for me. Hoping to sell most of my handmade jewellery off so that I can buy new supplies in America.

Kids are going to be selling some of their bits too to try and get money to buy new toys in America. Hopefully they will be able to get enough to get some nice toys and we will be less cluttered.

Keep you eyes peeled I might post some things on here and if you are interested in them let me know otherwise they will be boot sale bound.

Have decided to have a Sale on site!

So I decided to have a sale on my necklaces until May15th. Have sold one of my favorites. But still loads of selection left for those interested. Here is my site: Here is my site!

Malchite Spring Heart Necklace!

Here is one of my favorite necklace's. I made it with my own hands using malchite chip beads lampwork hearts and pearly seed beads. Hope you like it if you do could you vote for it on craftjuice please.


You can buy this one of a kind piece at http://www.fernriverjewels.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=76

I am doing a pamper evening at Keys Meadow Primary

Very excited that I am doing my first event on the 20th of March. I have been very busy making jewellery some things on commision and some just to increase the stock. Here are some photo's of Jewellery I should be selling at the fair.

Twitter

I am now on twitter

We have a misi.me listing now!

Hopefully more to come very soon. Sorry it has taken so long to get this listing on. Have had power supply issues due to my dear son thinking pulling on the power supply cable is a fun game. New power supply just arrived today.

Debbie
Look for our store Fern River Jewels

My Misi.me items to be

Well after much thought and consultation I have decided on what items I am going to try to sell on Misi.me.uk it was going to be 5 items but looks like I am doubling it to 10. So here are the lucky items.

Jade Necklace:

Jade Earrings:

Jade Bracelet:

Dragonfly ring:

Dragonfly Earrings

Dragonfly necklace:

Jumpring Earrings:

Jumpring Bracelet:

Solidate Heart Earrings:

Jade Pendant:


Will post another blog once I have added them to my misi shop.

CPSIA DEATH TO HANDMADE?

This blog was copied from http://kitschycoo.blogspot.com/2009/01/bloggers-unite-cpsia-blog-in.html please think about passing this blog along or writing one of your own. I am American I live in the UK when I move back to the states I don't want handmade to be dead or my friends to be out of much needed income because the government did not think of implications when the made the CPSIA.
THANKS,
Debbie
"As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too. How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:
To the Parents of Young Students:Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.To the Avid Reader:Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322To the Lover of All Things Handmade: Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.To the Environmentalist:Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.To the Second-Hand Shopper:Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.To the Entrepreneur:Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America. To the Antique Toy Collector:Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.htmlTo the American Economy:Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake. To the Worldwide Economy:Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.htmlAnd for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.htmlDid you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.I'm in the UK, so why do I care enough to blog about it? Firstly, it will affect me as an international seller, although it's still unclear how... Some people say it's okay to sell to the States as we're not duty bound to comply to US law, others say that Customs will destroy items as without the requisite testing and certificates they will be deemed 'hazardous'. Unlike American sellers on Etsy, I will at least still be able to advertise my apparel as available to ship to other countries outside the States; strictly speaking I don't believe American sellers are able to export non-tested / non-certified items. I have made a lot of friends through Etsy and Craftster who will likely lose their precious and hard-earned livelihoods.Secondly, I have family in the States that appreciate hand-crafted, independant alternatives to mass-produced goods. It makes me sad to think that my niece won't be able to flaunt her own individual style with the small batch productions offered by Etsy designers. Or add to her collection of quirky and educational toys, books and dolls. If you would like to show your support for cause, feel free to copy any or all of the text of this post into your own blog and spread the word!

Photos

Finally I have photos of my work here is my favorite item. I don't have my ears pierced so my question is should I sell on misi.me are they good enough?

So what else have I made well look me up on Facebook I have a page. Who knows maybe soon you'll be able to buy my jewellery online.

To Misi or not to Misi.

I am currently deciding if I should Misi. Having a very hard time deciding. I know some people took the plunge when misi was free to list. Now that it is 20p I am having a tough time deciding. I will be posting my work here and facebook the end of this week and would love everyones opinions as to if they think my Jewellery would sell. Honest opinions! So keep your eyes out for my future blog. Thanks.

Debbie

Logo!!!!

Well have made my logo. I am very happy I was able to do it all by myself. It is all starting to come together I also have a facebook page for those who are on facebook. It is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Enfield/Fern-River-Jewels/48962246861 . My next step is pictures. I would like to have some sort of fan base before I think about selling online. I believe I will be editing this post later as my husband is watching "Match of the Day" and my neice and mother in law are talking. So I really can't think.

Debbie

Decided on a name

Well yesterday I sold my first piece of jewelery. Have been told I under priced it so may up my hourly rate on anything new I make. As I sold something I thought it best I come up with a name.

Asked peoples opinions yesterday and have decided that the name will be "Fern River Jewels". The name comes from my daughter whose middle name is Fern and my son whos middle name is River.

Next step is to work on a logo.

Debbie

Post!

Yay I love getting post. Yesterday my findings and tigertail arrived. Very please with my 100m roll of lime tigertail for .99 p woohoo. Thought I would try split rings after hearing how secure they are after having them travel half way across the room I will definately not be using them around other people.

My post today contained heart beads, czech firepolished beads, gemstone chips, tigereye beads and some chain I have no idea how I will use. It smelt horrible too(cigerettes?). The beads are lovely though and can't wait to get stuck in.

Anyways have finished all but one project now just need to work on some more and find buyers (that is the hard bit).

DebbieJean

New to all of this!

Hi, my name is Deborah Jean! I am new to blogging and new to making jewelery. Over the past few days I have been trying to price up jewelery, take decent photos of them and come up with designs that I like. I really am enjoying the challenge just hope people think my pieces are worth paying for.

Anyways like I said I am new hopefully I will get better at blogging but never was one for keeping a diary when I was little so we will see.