Skinner Studio is on ArtFire!

This year I am making a determined effort to branch out; finding new opportunities and expanding to more selling venues. To that end, I am pleased to announce that Skinner Studio is now on ArtFire!



It's a wonderful new handmade selling venue, much like Etsy, where individual crafters and artists can feature their work. Right now, I only have 4 items listed...but more will be coming!

A Pocket Full of Monsters...

Oh boy, I snagged a Treasury on Etsy this morning!

Take a look at these fun creations from some talented Etsy artists:

I've got a certain fondness for bright colors and google eyes, can you tell?

Craft Space Make-Over

Yeah! After a year of making jewelry on the dining room table and reading emails while the boys fling scrambled eggs through the air, I finally have my own space. Here's the old space...

Not bad; I did have a cabinet and some drawers. They were just not enough, however, and I had piles of stuff proliferating across the counter space. Not only an eyesore, but quite counter-productive as well. I'm sure every task has taken twice as long as it should have merely because of the time involved in finding things, pulling them out, then re-stuffing them somewhere hurriedly before and tiny hands have a chance to break/hide/lose them.

But those days are over, I hope. Introducing my new office and crafting area...

Ta-da! Now, I know it's not in any way aesthetically pleasing, that will come later. But it is organized, with items easily accessible and grouped by purpose (resin casting, sanding/finishing, beading, shipping, etc.) I still have some more sorting to do...

All these containers and cups have resin and glass pieces in various stages of completion. Previously, these were stacked up, shoved away, and mixed up to such a degree that I had no idea what I even had, let alone what I was supposed to be doing with them. As you can see, there are quite a few items there (100 or more?) that I've already spent a significant amount of time on. Now I can finish them and get them listed in my shop.

I did add a little cuteness to my work space. I LOVE live plants and flowers - this one has such vibrant, happy colors. The candy jar, alas, is empty...for now...

And who's this little cutie? Her name is Shiloh, made by Sigourney from Godigo. Until now, she was also cast into the obscurity of living behind closed cabinet doors, but now she is free...

Free to breathe the fresh air, feel the warmth of the sunshine, and maybe... even snag a chocolate kiss from that jar...

Best Tip for Staying Organized and Getting Things Done!

I was writing out my morning lists and felt compelled to share this, my most favorite and useful tip for moms, especially the moms nurturing not only their children, but a fledgling business as well.

• Use two notebooks, one for your home/family list and one for your business/craft list.


• Each morning, or the night before, in each book list 8 things you wish to accomplish during the day.


• Put a time limit on each item (i.e., "fold laundry - 20 min.").


• Get a timer and use it for each task. If little ones interrupt, that's ok. Stop the timer as many times as you need to.


• When the timer stops, that's it, you're done - walk away.

Seriously, this tip has been the best thing in restoring sanity to my day, that is, when I use it. The reasons I think it works so well is that I have a plan and direction for my day. Before, I felt that I had so much to do, that I couldn't even get started and by the end of the day found I had done almost nothing. Using the timer method, you may not finish the whole job, but you've made forward progress and you can cross something off your list for that day. It makes you feel accomplished and eager to tackle the next thing.

For me, I can get so distracted on the computer that "just a minute" turns into 2 hours. Hours where I may or may not have accomplished much, but the kids were getting bored, stir-crazy, and needing attention. Using a timer for this purpose keeps us all balanced and happy.

I try to alternate tasks from my "home list" and "work list", and stopping in between just to play with the kids and give them some undivided attention. I kind of use the same method, not with a timer, but just watching the clock, and make sure I spend at least 15 minutes just playing or reading. Sometimes you've got so much to do, you feel like you can't possibly stop to play trains, but really, you can. 15 minutes is a short time really, (you can clean the bathroom when you're done - really, it will still be there), and it means everything to your children. For my kids, they are then quite happy to continue playing by themselves while I go get something else done.

Don't worry if you don't get everything on your list done that day, you can re-add it tomorrow. Yes, as mothers we have a lot to do to care for our families and homes. But don't let it frazzle you to insanity (like I've gotten now and then). Be balanced, and productive, but most of all - have fun with your kids and be happy!

This life-saving tip came from The Pretty Peacock. Please take the time to read her whole post on Mommy-ing and Etsy-ing, it is full of tips and inspiration for the crafty mama. And check out her shop, she has a beautiful selection of personalized sterling silver jewelry. Here is one of my favorites:

Pizza, Pendants and Pictures...

"When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie, that's amore...."

Last night I made pizza, and my husband was thoughtful enough to snag a few pictures. And yes, I believe making a funny face while hurling a lump of dough towards your kitchen ceiling is inevitable.



Yesterday, in a rare frenzy of organized industriousness, I made a ton of "well-traveled" atlas pendants. I love the beautiful colors found in my vintage atlas, and the pendants are becoming more and more popular in my Etsy shop.



I offer custom orders so buyers can choose whichever city they like, but how great it would be if what they wanted was already made and ready to ship...




Believe it or not, making them was the easy part. For me, the harder challenge is taking photos then listing the items. I had been taking my photos outside (indirect sunlight looks great), but with the change in weather, I just cannot compel myself to stand outside snapping pictures in the cold. So...





I am staying inside and forced to make do with my rather crude photo station. I don't think my photos come out too badly, but they could definitely be better. Soon, I plan to invest in a professional light box, or make my own (there are some great do-it-yourself instructions to be found online).

In the meantime I'll be working from my window sill, with my little helper:






Yes, I have my own staff. He helps by rearranging the necklaces, ripping my white paper backdrop from the wall, and running away with the tape measure.

I couldn't do it without him!





"Hey mom, how long is this going to take?"

New Year, New Hope, New Ideas

How interesting that the beginning of a new year comes during the season's coldest moments, and yet the excitement of change and a fresh start can bring to one's soul all the warmth and promise of Spring.

This year has already brought some good news for me. After spending nearly the whole of last year feeling constantly sick, weak, and losing an alarming amount of weight, I finally visited a naturopathic doctor who was able to discover quite a few medical issues, but more importantly, offer real solutions. Now, while starting an extensive regime of medications and supplements, I look ahead with real excitement. Truly, after a year of feeling lousy and run-down, I see on the horizon a whole new life: feeling good, having energy, being happy and vivacious and full of life.

This new found optimism has already recharged my spirit, it seems, and I'm ready to start anew in my aspirations as a mother, wife, and artist. With more energy, I can't wait to do more with my boys; to go more places, explore, do crafts and projects at home, and just have fun.

At home, I would love to finally get organized and scheduled. Laundry will always be the bane of my domestic life, but this year I am determined to get it under control and not a looming pile of doom. Then, for one of my favorite things: cooking. Yes, I love cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and finding something absolutely delicious to add to the dinner repertoire.

For my shop, and jewelry designing, I have a lot of big plans for the new year. I have been writing down ideas for new designs, and also want to experiment with completely new (new for me) techniques in resin. I've got my first batch of some new resin items curing right now, so stay tuned for some pics in the coming days.