Monday, November 28

This week in Instagram...

One reason of many that I was wishing, hoping, and dreaming of the day that I could call and iPhone mine, was something called Instagram.  If you haven't seen it, prepare yourself for heaven!  Instagram is a FREE app that allows you to take pictures, and alter them with cool vintage effects!

I have been playing with mine none-stop. Documenting even the smallest thing that I possibly could.  I love it so much I'm planning on starting a weekly post called... This week in Instagram!  {insert pre-apology if I miss weeks when things are crazy!}

Here's the first one!



Wednesday, November 23

Black Friday Sale! ! ! !

Want the great deals Black Friday offers, without the lines?!

I'm having a sale in both etsy shops { jonesingforjewelry , j4jcharms } ! Get your Christmas orders in now, and get them in time for Christmas! 



Use coupon code: INTIME4XMAS
To get 20% off your whole order!

Friday, November 18

Friday Favorites...

Happy Friday! Stay warm, stay dry, have fun!
-Carin







Wednesday, November 16

New!

Just some stuff I've been working on lately. Trying to keep up with orders, and filling my regular shop! 







Thursday, November 10

I ♥ TOOLS

Oh, new tools, how I love them!

Actually I should say, how I love new tools when I get the right ones!  Which can definately be tricky sometimes with so many products on the market.  Recently, with the help of my Etsy Metalsmith team, Ganoshkin, and several other sources, I have have managed to pick 3 great new tools. They have made my life so much easier, the product better, and they were all at a great price!  (Because the best, does not necessarily mean the most expensive!)

Introducing to the Jonesing for Jewelry family the newbies:



On the left we have my newest torch!  It's the baby in the family! A pencil torch.  These can be picked up at your local hardware store.  It is great for closing jump rings, soldering jump rings to bezel discs (like in my new shop J4JCharms), and just about any other smaller end project.  I am really hoping to one day get a super fancy torch that can span all jobs, but budget, and space are pretty limiting. For now, this little guy is just what I needed to stop all the overkill my big boy was producing!

In the middle, is the coolest tool I have seen!  So inventive!  I first stumbled across it again on my Etsy Metalsmith team. Jewelers were talking about random tools they at first didn't know what to do with, but now can't live without!  This is a set of tweezers that has a flat bottom, and a curved top.  It is used to solder ring shanks on to whatever setting you are using.   So much easier, and more precise than my previous method (you don't even want I was going through to solder those things together!)

And last, but definitely not least.  On the left we have the BEST metal cutters ever!  Ok these did cost a bit. But worth every penny in the end.  They are the Lindstrom brand.  Although most people LOVE this brand, it also gets some mixed reviews.  Awhile back I bought new Lindstrom wire cutters, and although they are good, they aren't perfect, so I was a little hesitant to order from them again. However, this particular set had great reviews, and you will be glad to know, they cut metal like butter!  Saves on the hands, and should last a lifetime!

Now off to use these babies to make more beautiful jewelry!  Remember my next step is to repopulate my Jonesing for Jewelry etsy shop with lots of great everyday items, as well as many OOAK items you can't find anywhere else!  Check out sneak peeks of them on my facebook page!

Monday, November 7

Today I Am Thankful...

Heading towards Thanksgiving, I keep seeing daily posts from Facebook friends about things they are thankful for.  Today I am thankful for my family.  For an extremely supportive husband, who pitches in, sacrifices, and encourages around every turn in the process of starting my own business. And for an amazing 4 year old son, who is happy, healthy, and amazing.  Both of them have had to make sacrifices, especially in the past few months while I started up j4jcharms.  


Today, no matter how many orders I had, no matter how much the dishes needed to be done. I promised I would stop, even if it was just for an hour, and devote my attention to whatever Kaleb wanted me to do with him.  It was challenging, as I am more swamped than I ever have been, but even while my phone beeped non-stop, the mail man came with several awaiting metal shipments, and orders begged to be filled, I enjoyed every minute of my time with him, and the pictures proved he did too!  


Kaleb, I promise to set aside more time with you, as you are the most important thing in this world, you too husband, you deserve my time, attention, and devotion.  I love you both, Carin.


Kaleb with our newly made bad guy city, which was already partially destroyed by police legos by the time I got my camera steadied! 

Monday {Friday} Favorites!

I highly suggest you enjoy this great set of Friday favorites with your favorite hot drink, and a warm blanket! 

Enjoy!








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