A Not-Really-A-Tutorial (Glass & Resin Jewelry)

"Inchie" pendant (1" square)

People ask me what procedure and techniques I use to make my glass tile and resin jewelry all the time.  The reason I haven't done a tutorial isn't that I am playing my pendants close to my chest, as it were.  It's just a super, duper involved process and I've never stopped to photograph each step as I go.

However, since this question has popped up again recently, I'll give you the 30-second version (sorry, no bunnies).


* print art and titles for backs (I use an Epson printer and Epson matte 27lb presentation paper)
* spray art with fixative

Seriously, the resin has to be
EXACTLY 50/50

* cut art and title pieces into itty bitty squares
*  glue art to glass tile (art faces glass tile)
*  glue title to back of art
*  seal title piece AND EDGES with silicone sealant

* wait for dry time

* clean edges of glass

* mix resin PERFECTLY
*  run resin around edges
* wait for set/cure time (overnight)
*  apply resin to entire back

If I do the resin all in one step, it "domes" and pulls away from
the edge, leaving a spot where moisture can seep under.
By running a bead of resin around the edge, allowing
it cure and then applying to the back, the art is fully protected
(but I still don't recommend you shower or swim while wearing your jewelry!)

*  stare at pieces for 48 hours to a week, depending on temperature and humidity

* quality check (toss or send back to "resin edges" stage)

* clean and polish
*  glue on bail
*  package in box with chain, care instructions and goodies
*  pack

* mail
*  pray that the USPS comes through

fin

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Spammy McSneakerton!

These are the kinds of things that crack me up.  I received a comment today on one of my most popular blog posts, You Stole My Idea! ... Or Did You?  (aka Copyright 101).   At first glance, it seemed nice.

Good post! I was actually doing research online on Intellectual Property Law when I came across your very informative blog.

Of course, as soon as I looked at the link he tucked into "Intellectual Property Law" (by hovering over it), I saw that it was a law firm.  Smooth move, Ex-Lax.

Yeah, I know I could have deleted it permanently, leaving no trace of "Mr. Marti," but this was more fun.

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Yesterday's Progress - photo blog (is that, like, a "flog?")

Well, first:

This doesn't look like the results of an entire afternoon of printing,
 sealing and trimming, but it is.  Next step,
what I do best: "gluing shit to other shit."

OK.  Now I have glass tiles with little
pictures glued to them.

Here's what they look like dry - these still need the backs glued on
and then have the sides and back sealed with resin

These are all finished - they just need final polishing and bails, then
they'll be going to new homes (or joining me at Art Bazaar & Bizarre Art in
Midtown Sacramento on Saturday night!)

But then:

Hey!  This is new!  1" rings!

So you take your glass tile with awesome art glued to the back...

... and you pop it in (with the help of a little E6000 adhesive).
These little goodies will be premiering on at Art Bazaar & Bizarre Art
on December 10th (5-8pm) in Midtown Sacrament OR you can order
them from my ArtFire shop (contact me for a custom listing for now).

And just because:

YAY!!!! HANK IS HOME!

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Shipping and Order Status Information

"I'm too pretty to work." ~Skelekitty

Hi everyone!  Things are much busier than usual here in my studio, but as usual, Skelekitty is being a lazy bum, moving from sun spot to sun spot without lifting one bony paw to help!  Darned cat.  I've been so overwhelmed with orders for the Help Hank fund that I'm running a little more behind than usual. Mind you, I am NOT complaining!  My heart is absolutely full to bursting with how people have come together for that dog. 

So.  Updates.  I haz dem:

SHIPPING PROCEDURE: 

When I print your mailing label, you will receive a notification e-mail from USPS tracking, however, there is usually some lag time between when I print the label to pack your order and when the package is picked up by my super-awesome mail carrier. When the package actually goes out the door, you will receive an e-mail from ArtFire* saying that your package shipped, and one with your shipping confirmation number again. Oh, and shipping on original art and pendants ALWAYS includes insurance, so if you have any difficulty with your package, we've got it covered. 

* if your order ships in separate packages, you will received the ArtFire "shipped" confirmation only after all items have shipped.

ORDER UPDATES:

Prints:  All prints in orders placed before December first have been packed & shipped, and USPS Track & Confirm notices have been sent.  These shipments include orders for prints placed with jewelry or original art (prints and jewelry/small art ordered together always ship separately because of the different shapes and sizes).  Print orders placed after 12/1 will ship later this week - probably Thursday, maybe earlier if I stay focused!

Jewelry:  Turnaround time for jewelry orders is usually 7-14 days.  Yep, it takes that long for me to make them since they involve lots of little steps with 12-hour drying times in between.  With the increased number of orders (and my aforementioned alter ego being a bum), I'm estimating a minimum of 14 days for jewelry now, just to be on the safe side.  Anyway, since the prints are out the door, I am spending today working on finishing up earring and pendant orders and making some extras for the show Allyson and I are doing on the 10th in Sacramento.

My sincere apologies for the extra wait time.  All orders already placed WILL be to you well before Christmas!  I promise.  And if anyone has some extra elves they want to send my way, I wouldn't refuse 'em!

Do you have a question that wasn't answered in this post?  The fastest way to get a response is to e-mail krissisandvik@gmail.com.  Facebook posts/tags/PMs, ArtFire messages and other contact methods are hit and miss at best.

Thank you again for the awesome response to the Help Hank fund!  I do still have some in-stock and ready to ship pendants, so if you're in a hurry for a gift, check 'em out.  More will be added on December 11th.

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Operation Help Hank (he has his own page now)

It was getting confusing with the health updates and the how-to-help posts in so many different places, so I've attempted to gather information an links (including links to all of Allyson's posts on Hank's health) in one spot. 

Please join us over on Hank's page.  And if you like, leave a comment (Al reads all of them to Hank when she visits).

Lots of love,

Krissi

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New Look & Call For YOUR Questions

Howdy all!  I hope you were all able to find something to be thankful for last week (well, every day would be even better).

Hand turkey art by my friend Wenchkin,
for whose friendship and creativity I am constantly thankful

Aside from some breaks to walk Abby or spend time with friends and neighbors, I've been nose-down in the studio raising funds for my friend Allyson's dog Hank who contracted Leptospirosis (he was a stray who Al stalked, lured, caught and then fell in love with).  Hank does seem to be improving, but there is a lot of creation, packing and mailing to do before the day is out.  Then some more fundraising.

I also took an hour out of my schedule today to update the look and feel of my blog - it had been really bothering me for the last few months.  I hope you like the changes.

As the year comes to a close, I'd love to know what you would like to see from me here.  As you know, I have been posting at the group blog, Modern Rosies, since it launched in September, and I will continue to post recipes and DIY household tips over there along with the Ask Krissi's Art Studio column.

As for this blog, I have every intention of diving back into the Marketing Tidbits as soon as I look up from my orders and projects - have no fear. So are there any particular marketing questions you'd like answered?  Any tutorials that I haven't yet covered?  Anything you'd like help with? Something you're just curious about? Please, take advantage of my years of trial and error and error and error.  Clue me in on what you'd like help with by either leaving a comment on this post or dropping me an e-mail.

Thanks, as always, for reading and supporting my art and ramblings.

xo & <3

Krissi

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Hank Fundraiser - background and update

11/27 UPDATE!!  THIS JUST IN!!!!  Donation amounts from all "Help Hank" purchases made in my shop between NOW and 11:59PM on Monday night will be matched DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR by an anonymous donor!!!  The love just keeps pouring in!  (Just go to my shop and search HELPHANK or click on his happy photo!)  http://skelekitty.artfire.com

If you are wondering what all this is about "Hank" the dog, let me plagiarize a friend (Paige Lettington)'s Facebook post:

To all my friends who love animals (as well as music and lifting heavy things)...Allyson Seconds was my first trainer at BodyTribe and she rescues animals. In fact, she was late to our first session because she was rescuing a squirrel. Her most recent rescue (that I know of) is Hank, a very sweet black lab whom she has had for about a year. He has come down with Leptospirosis, and has had some vet bills this past week that are tough for Al to handle. Her other dog, Lulu (also a rescue) had two vet incidents this month too, and Al makes her living making music and making people strong, so her financies are limited. There are a couple of ways to help. You can buy something (and support a local artist) from Krissi Sandvik through Monday, or donate directly to Al via PayPal. See both options here: http://krissisandvik.blogspot.com/2011/11/hank-dog-and-sale-update.html


Thanks to ALL OF YOU, I've been able to gather $130 from the sale of prints and pendants, and we still have two full days to go! Through donations and purchases, Allyson was able to obtain the diagnosis via an expensive 'senior blood panel."  I cannot express just how much the purchases and notes I've received, both to me and on behalf of Hank, Allyson and Kevin Seconds, have done to restore my faith in humanity.  For that alone, thank you.

I have a few newish pieces going up in the shop to help raise funds for Hank's vet bills.  To find out which pieces will have all profits donated to Hank's vet fund, just click on the "Help Hank" picture in my shop or search "helphank" on ArtFire.com.

The HELP HANK sale has been extended INDEFINITELY

If you can only afford a couple of dollars or would prefer your entire donation go to Hank, you may also donate directly to Allyson via PayPal (her address is alnational1@gmail.com).

Thank you again for your caring, help, notes and for just being awesome.

You guys rock.

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Hank the Dog and a Sale Update

11/27 (2:00 pm PST) UPDATE:  


THIS JUST IN!!!!  Donation amounts from all "Help Hank" purchases made in my shop between NOW and 11:59PM on Monday night will be matched DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR by an anonymous donor!!!  The love just keeps pouring in!  (Just go to my shop and search HELPHANK or click on his happy photo!)  http://skelekitty.artfire.com


Hank is a good-natured black Lab who was found last Thanksgiving on the Sacramento river by a local photographer, artist, musician, personal trainer and all-around awesome woman, Allyson Seconds. If you don't know Al, I can assure you that she gives to the community whenever and however she can.  Now one of her rescued dogs needs more veterinary care than she can afford (following two medical incidents with her Lab/Border Collie cross, Lulu last month).

Therefore, I decided that in addition to my customer appreciation / un-occupy the malls sale this weekend (see below), I would donate all profits from select animal-themed prints & pendants to Hank's veterinary fund.

While the flyer says it starts tomorrow, I will honor any
Operation Help Hank purchases today.  'Cause I love that big galoot.

UPDATES ON HANK can be found here, on Allyson's facebook page. 

Just click on the HELP HANK button here or in the Skelekitty & Friends shop to see which items are part of the benefit.  I'm adding more each day.  All you do is make a qualifying purchase before the clock chimes 12 midnight on Tuesday morning.  You don't need to do anything else, I'll automatically donate the profits to Allyson for Hank.  However, you're encouraged to send a little note with your purchase - I really like little notes and I'll pass those on to Al as well.

How to Help Hank:

BUY YOURSELF OR A FRIEND SOMETHING PRETTY

• visit Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty & Friends and click on the HELP HANK photo
  or
• search helphank in ArtFire.com
  or
• click here to see which items will benefit Hank
  
   As always, there is no account signup required to shop on the ArtFire online marketplace.
  

DIRECT DONATION

• you may also make a PayPal donation to Allyson and Operation Help Hank (this donation goes directly to Al & doesn't pass through my account)  **if you have difficulty with this link and are using a mobile device or tablet, just use your PayPal app and make a donation to alnational1@gmail.com.  Thanks!

I have also added two more days to my UN-occupy the malls sale to thank all of my customers for their support over the years.  

Just look for the "COUPON" banner on items starting at midnight tonight
then use the code for that day at checkout
p.s. The search feature is a little glitchy today, I'll have it fixed by tonight!

I'm finishing up a run of pendants to list in the shop for the sale, so I'd better get off this darned computer and start photographing and listing them!  

And yes, any sales items that also fall into the Help Hank category will automatically have the profits donated to Al.

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Holiday "Thank You" Sale

To thank my customers for all of the support throughout this year (and previous ones), I've decided to run a pre-holiday sale at Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty & Friends.

Thanksgiving (11/24): 25% off all in-stock items (includes all prints, original art and ready-to-ship jewelry)*  Coupon code: THANKYOU25

Black Friday (11/25): 20% off all in-stock items (includes all prints, original art and ready-to-ship jewelry)* Coupon code: THANKYOU20

JUST ADDED! (11/26 & 27) 15% off all in-stock items Coupon code: THANKYOU15

Cyber Monday (11/28): Buy One, Get One prints Coupon code: THANKYOUPRINTS

*Sales exclude all made-to-order items, i.e., made-to-order jewelry, painted mats and custom art. I won't be able to offer made-to-order jewelry (resin is tricky this time of year), so if there's a pendant you think should be in the shop, now's the time to drop me a note and tell me what size & image (don't forget the size!)

Please give handmade items this holiday season
and feel free to share Skelekitten's message
(but please don't remove my studio name)

And now, for an editorial.

I know many people participate in "boycott Black Friday" for various reasons - some because they feel the spirit of Christmas has been lost in a wave of consumerism; some because they don't approve of stores requiring employees to work over the holiday weekend; some because they believe Thanksgiving should be spent with family and friends; and some because they just don't want to support large corporations.  As for me?  I just hate the crowds and would rather go for a walk at the lake with my husband and dog.

It's not for me to pass judgement on anyone's stance on the boycott, no matter why they participate.  As a long-time supporter of the Give Handmade movement, I decided to offer some discounts to my fans as a thank you, not so I could get myself 'in the black.'  I don't rake in the bucks on sales (don't worry, I'm not undercutting myself either), but I know some people save up for months just to get a print or a pendant. That is the spirit in which I decided to have a Thanksgiving weekend sale.

So if you are one of the few who like to troll around looking for artists and indie shop-owners so you can publicly shame them for running a sale over Thanksgiving weekend, I request that you to keep your opinions to yourself.  We put more of ourselves into our work than we could ever reflect in our prices. There are no employees being forced to work a holiday, and most of the money we do make goes back into our local community or to other handmade artisans.  We do this because we love it, not to get rich.

Likewise, if you disagree with the entire idea of the boycott, this isn't the place to bring it up.  Discussion is fine in the appropriate places.  If you want to discuss it, make a post on your blog or facebook page and invite discussion - I did it over on my Google+ page before writing this post).

No matter what you think about the boycott, whether you celebrate American Thanksgiving or not, or how you decide to spend your holiday weekend, whether it is at the mall or at home, I hope you will spend some time to remember what you are thankful for this year.

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Best Savings for the Rest of the Year. No kidding!

The GB Handmade group "Skull Appreciation" sale is in full swing!  With about a day and a half left to go, I thought I'd show you all a few of the things that are 30% off in my shop with the code BRAINCASE.  FYI, if you want to see everything that's on sale, just click here. NOTE: none of these have never been 30% off before, and they sure won't be again before Christmas.

Each of these 5x5" plaques is regularly $25, but with your 30% coupon,
that's just $17.50 each!
Your choice of pink/hearts, lime/hearts & bone or purple/crossbones

My 2009 painting, La Llorona
photographed at an angle in bright sunlight to show the texture on original
7x9" acrylics, pencil and ink on wood plaque
(was priced at $76.95, with code BRAINCASE, it's just $53.87 - a steal and a half, since the price is going up to $90 after the sale!)

2 Sides of Skelekitty
Pair of Skelekitty Angel/Devil Paintings
11x14" acrylics, ink and mixed media on cradled hardwood artist panels
regularly $325; with code BRAINCASE, they are almost $100 OFF! (just $227.50)

And, of course, all of my prints and pendants (even the made-to orders and custom mats) with skulls, bones, skeletons or even exoskeletons are also 30% off with the sale code.  

This all ends Wednesday night, so hop on it, 'cause I'm serious that you wont' see another sale with prices this low for at least another 3 months.

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