Make Every Day Your Lucky Day

Mother's Day 20% Off Sale

2011-04-29T17:57:00.005-04:00

I'm planning to visit my mom this Mother's Day. Not original, but we'll both enjoy it. I'd love to hear about anything special you have planned for Mother's Day this year--especially if it includes a gift from Lucky Girl Trading on Etsy! I'll be putting my shops on vacation late next week, but through Sunday, May 1 you can save 20% off your entire order with the code "MOM20". I've got more than 800 unique items available, so you're sure to find something she'll love!

Vintage Pyrex Teapot with Tea Ball Infuser

2011-04-03T12:18:00.003-04:00

I'm getting ready for another visit with my family, and thought I should unpack some of the treasures I brought home from my last visit before I go. I had completely forgotten about this old Pyrex teapot I found in my mom's basement! It was my great-grandmother's, and I haven't been able to find another one like it. I did find an image from a Pyrex brochure printed in 1931 that shows this style, but with a glass top. I believe the pot is style 16, a 6-cup teapot, but I haven't been able to find any information on the metal top with infuser. The top fits this pot perfectly, so I think it must have been made for this pot, and not a generic top. I'm hoping that some of you Pyrex lovers can help me with its history and value, maybe the top was part of a special promotion?

Soap Dishes are Good Clean Fun

2011-02-28T15:44:00.003-05:00

I've been making a lot of soap dishes lately. They're fun to design, pretty to look at, and they're functional--a win all the way around!

I've partnered with Robyn's Nest Boutique for a bit of promotion, and now each of my soap dishes come with a sample of Robyn's wonderful soap.

Robyn's Fleur de Lis soap would look beautiful in this lavender soap dish. A licensed esthetician, Robyn also creates lip balms and other bath and body products.
This soap dish with the bubbles inside is a really fun way to decorate your powder room. Want a different color? Just ask!

Charlotte, NC

2011-02-21T17:24:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry I've been silent for so long, but things have been going at a constant whoooooooooosh for months now! You may remember that Mr. LuckyGirl got a job in Charlotte, about a 3-hour drive from our home. That contract job turned into a permanent job, so we found an apartment in Charlotte and moved just in time to get the kids started in school here. Then the search was on for a place for my glass studio, and another round of packing, moving, and unpacking. We're just finishing up getting our house ready to rent out (know anyone looking for a house in Durham with a terrific studio space?), and still trying to organize the new studio.

I've been trying out some new things with glass, and Mr. LuckyGirl has been creating new metal designs. I'll have more to show soon--I promise!--but in the meantime here's a soap dish that I can't stop looking at.

A Half Century

2010-08-01T00:03:00.002-04:00

It's been along time since I've managed to post here--the summer has been crazy hectic--but it's not been quite 50 years. :-D

August is my birthday month, and the half century I'm referring to will be my age in a few weeks. I'm totally excited! The only thing more awesome than being a half-century is turning a full century, and I have a long time to plan that celebration.

To celebrate I'm having a Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off sale in all my shops all month long! For each item you purchase I'll take half off the price of a second item (discount will be on the lowest-priced item). Send me a Happy Birthday message via the venue you shop at and I'll either adjust prices for you or send you a refund.

Celebrate with me at LuckyGirlTrading on eBay, LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy, or LuckyGirlTrading on ArtFire.

I've got some new creations to show off, and a few more birthday celebrations to share, so check back in a few days to see what else I have going on!

How Much Gold is in Your Gold Jewelry?

2010-05-14T15:58:00.005-04:00

I'm getting ready to restock my chains and have been searching for some new suppliers. I only have a couple of chain styles available in gold vermeil, and haven't been interested in adding gold-plated or gold-filled pieces, but I do want to add more vermeil. Mr. LuckyGirl and I ended up having a huge discussion about the differences between plated, filled, and vermeil jewelry, and to settle things I did a bit of research. I thought I'd share my findings with you (while sparing you a recap of the bickering).

Gold plated jewelry has a fine layer of gold coated to the outside of a metal base (often nickel). The gold layer must have a minimum thickness of .5 microns.
Gold electroplated jewelry has a fine layer of gold coated to the outside of a metal base (often nickel). The gold layer must have a minimum thickness of .175 microns.
Gold filled jewelry is created by using heat and pressure to permanently fuse a layer of gold over a metal base. The minimum layer of gold must equal 1/20th of the total weight of the finished item. An item stamped with "1/20 14k GF" means 1/20th of its total weight is 14 karat gold.
Rolled gold plate is similar to gold filled, but the quantity of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the finished metal piece. An item stamped with "1/40 14k R.G.P." means 1/40th of its total weight is 14 karat gold.
Heavy gold electroplated jewelry has a thick layer of gold coated to the outside of a metal base (often nickel). The gold layer must have a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns (100 millionths of an inch).
Gold vermeil jewelry has a thick gold layer over sterling silver with a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns (100 millionths of an inch).

I prefer vermeil: it's much more affordable than solid gold made completely with precious metals.

What about those karats and colors?

24 karat gold is solid gold, with no added metals. It's too soft for most jewelry, so the gold is mixed with other metals like nickel or zinc for hardness. The number of karats tells you what fraction of gold was used in creating the metal of your piece. For example, 14 karat gold is made of 14 parts of gold and 10 parts other metals. Copper is added to create rose gold, silver to create green gold, and nickel or palladium are added to create white gold. Much of the white gold being produced in the U.S. is also plated with a thin layer of rhodium to give a brighter white color.

New from the Kiln

2010-05-09T00:37:00.006-04:00

Things have been so hectic here with My LuckyGirl working out of town and me still learning to fill the role of full-time wicked stepmother that I haven't been able to list many new things in my shops. I've been making new things, but most are stuck somewhere in the line-up of taking photos, cleaning up photos, and writing descriptions.

So you get to see some of my new favorites here first! The incense burner and the plates will make it into my Etsy shop soon, but if you're interested in something before then just let me know.

Zero Shipping!

2010-04-22T00:02:00.003-04:00

I've been working on ways to lower my shipping costs, and I'm excited to announce that I'm changing the shipping price for the majority of my items to $0.00! I've updated almost 75% of the eligible listings in my eBay store, and as soon as I've finished up there I'll move on to changing the shipping costs in my Etsy and ArtFire shops.

Heavy items like plates, slumped bottles, and jewelry boxes won't ship for free, but just about everything else will. If you've got your eye on something and I haven't adjusted the postage cost yet just let me know and I'll move it to the top of my list.

Wholesale Slumped Bottles

2010-04-11T22:03:00.006-04:00

I've finally got things in order here so I can expand a bit. My first project has been getting my slumped bottles ready for wholesale orders. They make great impulse purchases in wine stores, gift shops, and even bars; and are unique serving pieces for the right appetizer or dessert.

The lucky thing is that before I had my line sheet half finished, I had my first wholesale order! My bottle plates are being used in an upscale restaurant in Raleigh to serve appetizers. I'm hoping to get a photo or two of them in action, and I promise to share if/when that happens!

The bottles are heavy, so shipping is expensive. Although I'm happy to ship them, I've decided to concentrate my efforts locally. People will have the option of picking up their order, and if they order enough bottles I'll deliver them for free.

If you have a business in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina area and want more information, you can get my wholesale slumped bottle details in PDF format.

Fused Glass Spoon Rests: My Cure for Grumpy Cooks

2010-04-03T23:14:00.005-04:00

I can't stop giggling at this smiley face spoon rest! In fact I love it so much I plan to start on more of them this week! So far this is the only one, and I don't think it will stay in my Etsy shop for long.

For cooks who prefer a more upscale look, this true blue spoon rest is gorgeous! It's a beautiful translucent blue, and I love how it plays with light.

I'll try to get a few more new things posted later this week!

I Do Not Want to Move All This Merchandise

2010-03-29T01:35:00.005-04:00

Mr. LuckyGirl is still searching for a job, and he's expanded his search area to Charlotte--about 3 hours away. As much as I don't want top move, I know that we'll go where we need to go. I've been looking around our house, both hoping we don't have to move and dreading the day we begin packing.

I decided to reopen my eBay store a few weeks ago in an effort to reduce the amount of inventory we have, just in case we end up moving. I've been trying to add 10 items each day, and I'm stunned at how many beautiful things I've had tucked away in drawers and file boxes! I can easily continue listing 10 items each day for a few more weeks before I have to put any effort into searching out stragglers.

I'm anxious to clear these things out--I'd rather pack them now send them to new homes than pack them later and drag them with me--so if you see something you like please feel free to make me an offer!

Hot--and Green!--From My Kiln

2010-03-24T22:12:00.005-04:00

Not really hot, temperature-wise--I always let the kiln cool down slowly to room temperature before I unload it so that the glass doesn't suffer from cooling stress. Hot as in new and now!

I love this business card holder! I used a layer of clear glass with an iridized coating and iridized stringer over a layer of translucent green. The glass with stringer attached is really difficult to work with, but absolutely worth every bit of struggle!

This 7" plate began with the same glass as the card holder, but I added frit and confetti (paper thin bits of glass). After several rounds in the kiln it developed some tiny, beautiful air bubbles. I hadn't planned on the bubbles, but they add a nice touch to this plate!

This cute little plate is about 5" square, with a recessed area in the center. It would work as an appetizer plate, a candle holder, or a coaster. I'm really happy with the way the blue and the green complement each other.

A Few More Awesome Finds

2010-02-03T14:03:00.001-05:00

Betti, by Kate Louise, has the sweetest handcrafted headbands and crocheted beanies and scarves. We loved this cream satin lace headband so much I asked her to make an assortment of similar headbands. They were all terrific, and arrived much faster than I expected.

I'm not usually a fan of coffee cup cozies, but I picked up this one for the monkey-lover in the family. It's so cute and well made that I'm thinking of getting a few more to use for "just because" gifts. Really, can you look at that face without smiling? Click over to Maceme and have a look around, there's always something new and different to discover!

Far superior to the old pet rocks (anybody else remember those?), this rock has a dragon figure carved into it. This piece is so terrific I'm thinking about getting more rocks, maybe Mr. LuckyGirl will get a custom rock to celebrate our anniversary (ssshhhhh!). Check out sjEngraving, especially the custom nest section.

I Really Did Not Mean to be MIA for so Long!

2010-01-30T13:13:00.004-05:00

Really, I didn't! But in the midst of the normal craziness of the holidays, I went from being a wicked weekend stepmom to having two kids in the house 24/7. This has been a huge adjustment for everyone, especially the children, and has managed to drain my time faster that you can say "Who forgot to flush?".

We're finally beginning to find some sense of schedule, so things are looking up a bit. And I do enjoy having kids in the house! So anyway, I want to show off some of my favorite purchases.

I found these cute stuffed trees at TattieTats. They added a bit of Suess-ness to our holiday decor, and were a big hit. You can find a beautiful assortment of headbands, clips, and other hand-sewn lovelies there year-round.

These snowflake ornaments were made with walnut and maple, and just like real snowflakes you can find something unique about each one. That's one of my favorite things about buying handcrafted items! I found these at D and D Woodworks, and I've got my eye on a set of handcrafted wood trivets next. Check out the brain teaser puzzle there while you're browsing!

This penguin shirt has been a huge hit. It's not only really cute, but if you lift up the back of the shirt you can read the story of these penguins on the inside. How cool is that? Check out all the awesome shorts and things at Aleloop--I was entertained for quite a while!

This sweet little Scottie dog was originally named Snowflake, but my 18-month-old grandson immediately renamed it Kitty. (I still giggle when I think about that!) Check out Juliekope for more cute stuffed creatures and some amazing handsmocked clothing.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 31 (Good for 3 Days!)

2009-12-13T02:29:00.003-05:00

Happy December 13! Today's special is all of my previous 30 Deals! Here's your chance to catch a bargain on any deal you missed earlier. Just leave a comment here, and follow the directions for the deal you want to grab! This deal is good through midnight, Eastern U.S. time, December 15, 2009.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 30

2009-12-12T00:29:00.001-05:00

Happy December 12! Today's special is 10% off any chain purchase from my LuckyGirlTrading on ArtFire store. Make your purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and use the code "LUCKYFRIEND" when you checkout. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 29

2009-12-11T03:01:00.002-05:00

Happy December 11! Today's special is a 10% discount on your purchase of any 6- or 12-month Gift of the Month Club subscription from my LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy store. Choose from Temari of the Month, Earrings of the Month, Pendant of the Month, or Jewelry of the Month (alternate months of pendants and earrings). Make your purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, send me a message with the words "Day 29 Deal", and I'll refund 10% of the subscription price. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 28

2009-12-10T01:44:00.002-05:00

Happy December 10th! Today's special is a big discount on these gorgeous jewelry boxes.

This charming fabric-covered box is a perfect way to protect your jewelry. It has a padded top and beautiful dragon design, and a single large compartment will hold a nice collection of jewelry or treasures. Approximately 6 x 6 x 2-1/4", available in brown with green interior or black with red interior. These can be yours for $15 each plus actual postage charges. (Want to estimate postage? You can use the postage calculator at usps.com: shipping weight is 3 pounds, coming from zip code 27713, USA.)

To take advantage of today's deal, send me an email (luckygirltrading at yahoo dot com) or leave a comment on this post with your email address and zip code. This offer is good today only, so don't wait! Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 27

2009-12-09T03:43:00.002-05:00

Happy December 9! Today's special is your choice of either of these sterling silver brooches for $23 (including first class postage) when you purchase them directly from me before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time.

The lovely swan is about 1.5" x 1.75" and accented with marcasite. The reindeer is about 1.3" x 1.6", accented with marcasite and a pretty red CZ.

Interested? Send an email to luckygirltrading [at] yahoo.com with your choice(s) of brooch and mailing address. I'll confirm I still have the pieces you want and send you a PayPal invoice. If you want your deal shipped faster let me know, I'm happy to check the costs for speedier delivery.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 26

2009-12-08T01:06:00.003-05:00

Happy December 8! Today's special is a free satin neck cord with your purchase of any fused glass pendant from my LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy store. Make your purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, send me a message with the words "Day 26 Deal", and I'll include a satin cord with your order. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next December Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 25

2009-12-07T03:16:00.003-05:00

Happy December 7! Today's special is a 25% discount on any kumihimo braid when you purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time. Send a note with your order with "KUMI25" and I'll refund your discount via PayPal if you've paid, or send you a corrected invoice if you haven't.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 24

2009-12-06T00:51:00.002-05:00

Happy December 6! Today's special is repeat--you all asked for another SNIFTY day so here it is! Buy 3, Get 1 Free on SNIFTY scented scarves when you purchase them directly from me before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time. This is the perfect gift for kids of all ages--including the grown-up ones, and terrific for people who already have everything. Complete details on the scarves and how to order are below.

These scarves are really SNIFTY (spiffy + nifty = snifty)! They're 100% lambs wool, infused with hypoallergenic pure essential oils that are embedded into the wool by a unique micro-encapsulation process. Left alone, there's little scent, but slight friction releases a yummy scent. Each scarf is about 8" x 40", plus 3.5" fringe at both ends. They come in 7 color/scent combinations:

Red smells like strawberries
Black smells like cola
Brown smells like chocolate (my favorite!)
Orange smells like oranges
Yellow smells like banana
Pink smells like bubble gum
Purple smells like grape (the package says it's supposed to smell like blackcurrant)

I bought a bunch of them on close-out a couple of years ago, and I'm down to my last few dozen. In fact, I only have one or two green scarves left, but more of the others. Perfect for kids of all ages, they make unique and much-talked-about holiday gifts!

I normally sell these for $8 plus $5.95 shipping. Get yours today and I'll give you 1 free with each 3 you purchase. I'll also charge you only the actual shipping cost, so if you only want one scarf you won't get hit with a big postage charge. (You can go to usps.com and estimate the postage, each scarf is about 7 ounces mailing weight, coming from zip 27713.)

Interested? Send an email to luckygirltrading [at] yahoo.com with the number of scarves you'd like, your color choices, and mailing address. I'll confirm I have the quantities and colors you want, weigh them in a shipping envelope or box, and send you a PayPal invoice.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 23

2009-12-05T01:14:00.002-05:00

SAVE 15.00 % On
All Items

Use Coupon Code:

DAY23

during checkout.

LuckyGirlTrading

Happy December 5! Today's special is a 15% discount on anything and everything in my Artfire shop! Shop before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time and use code DAY23 when you check out.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 22

2009-12-04T01:30:00.002-05:00

Happy December 4! Today's special is a chunky bike chain bracelet. Silver-colored metal, 3/8" wide, 8" long, with a lobster clasp. I've only got a few of these left, and they can be yours for $6 each plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading [at] yahoo.com.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 20 and Day 21

2009-12-02T23:22:00.003-05:00

Happy December 2! I've posted this so late in the day that I'm making this a 2-day Deal. I promise I'll try to get back on schedule on the 4th!

Today's special is a buy more save more discount on everything in my Etsy shop!

Buy $10.00 or less in merchandise, save 5%
Buy $10.01 to $25.00 in merchandise, save 10%
Buy $25.01 to $50.00 in merchandise, save 20%
Buy $50.01 to $85.00 in merchandise, save 25%
Buy more than $85.00 in merchandise, save 30%

Purchase before midnight, December 4, Eastern U.S. time, put the words "Day 20/21 Deal" in the notes to seller during checkout, and I'll send you a corrected invoice via PayPal or refund your overpayment, whichever is easier for you. Check back Friday for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 19

2009-12-01T23:26:00.003-05:00

Happy December 1! I've posted this so late in the day that I'm extending the special through tomorrow.

Today's special is 30% discount on this beautiful pink jade necklace. Suspended from a 30" sterling silver tipped pink ribbon, the 12mm diameter round pink jade pendant is lovely gift. A favorite among breast cancer survivors, this necklace also works as a pin: tie it in a fancy bow, add a safety pin, and you've got a multipurpose piece of jewelry! Purchase before midnight, December 2, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll reduce the price from $15 to $10.50 plus $3.00 shipping, for a total of $13.50. Just send an email with the words "Day 11 Deal" to me at luckygirltrading [at] yahoo.com, or leave a comment on this post with your email address, and I'll send you an invoice via PayPal. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 18

2009-11-30T01:18:00.001-05:00

Happy November 30! Today's special is a beautiful pair of sterling silver leverback earrings set with three genuine Sapphires. The gems are graduated in size, making this a lovely and elegant past, present, and future accessory. Priced at around $70 in a retail store, I've only got two of these sweeties left, and they can be yours for $25 each plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading [at] yahoo.com. Want to know how much this is in non-U.S. currency? Try this handy currency converter.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 17

2009-11-29T08:28:00.001-05:00

Happy November 29! Today's special is a 15% discount on anything in the supplies and destash section of my Etsy shop. I've got tons of sterling silver charms, pendants, an assortment of pouches, a few sewing notions, and lots of odds and ends.

Put a note to me during checkout with the words "Day 17 Deal" and I'll refund your savings, or I can send you a corrected invoice before you pay--which ever is easier for you.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 16

2009-11-28T00:55:00.002-05:00

Happy November 28! YIKES! What happened to the Day 15 Deal? I'm going to blame it on temporary turkey insanity. Sorry, and thanks to all of you who checked to see if everything was okay. I'm making today's deal extra special to make up for yesterday's missing deal.

Today's special is a 40% discount and free worldwide shipping on every item in my Precious Metal Jewelry section. Make a purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll refund your savings via PayPal. If it's easier for you, send me a message and I'll revise the prices before you make your purchase. Send me a message with the words "Day 16 Deal" to get the special price. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 14

2009-11-26T03:19:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Today's special is a 10% discount and a gift of assorted pouches with on any order over $20 from my LuckyGirlTrading on Bonanzle store. Make a purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll include an assortment of pouches with your order and refund 10% of your merchandise cost. (Note: you may not receive the exact pouches shown above, but I will pick out something pretty for you!) Just send me a message with the words "Day 14 Deal". This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 13

2009-11-25T00:17:00.002-05:00

Happy November 25! Today's special is a 50% discount on anything in the books and patterns section of my Etsy shop. I've got tons of vintage sewing patterns, Golden Hands magazines from the 1970s, and an assortment of crafting books.

Put a note to me during checkout with the words "Day 13 Deal" and I'll refund your savings, or I can send you a corrected invoice before you pay--which ever is easier for you.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 12

2009-11-24T01:14:00.001-05:00

Happy November 24! Today's special is a 25% discount on these beautiful sterling silver and marcasite necklaces. Both pieces have fancy marcasite-adorned box clasps that finished them beautifully. They'll arrive in gift boxes, ready to give (or tuck away in a drawer for yourself!).

The first necklace is 5.4 mm wide, 17" long, and weighs 35 grams. Normally I sell this for $65, but it can be yours today for $48.75 plus actual shipping (about 6 ounces).

The second necklace is 8.8 mm wide, 17.5" long, and weighs 26 grams. Normally I sell this for $50, but it can be yours today for $37.50 plus actual shipping (about 6 ounces).

Contact me before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and this deal can be yours. You can either leave a comment on this post with your zip code, email address, and whether you'd like the package to be insured, and I'll send you an invoice for the correct amount via PayPal; or send the same information in an email to luckygirltrading at yahoo dot com. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 11

2009-11-23T01:35:00.003-05:00

Happy November 23! Today's special is a 15% discount on anything and everything in my Bonanzle shop! Shop before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, make me an offer that's 15% lower than the listed price, and I'll accept it. Couldn't be easier!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 10

2009-11-22T00:05:00.001-05:00

Happy November 22! Today's special is a Buy 3, Get 1 Free on SNIFTY scented scarves when you purchase them directly from me before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time. This is the perfect gift for kids of all ages--including the grown-up ones, and terrific for people who already have everything. Complete details on the scarves and how to order are below.

These scarves are really SNIFTY (spiffy + nifty = snifty)! They're 100% lambs wool, infused with hypoallergenic pure essential oils that are embedded into the wool by a unique micro-encapsulation process. Left alone, there's little scent, but slight friction releases a yummy scent. Each scarf is about 8" x 40", plus 3.5" fringe at both ends. They come in 7 color/scent combinations:

Red smells like strawberries
Black smells like cola
Brown smells like chocolate (my favorite!)
Orange smells like oranges
Yellow smells like banana
Pink smells like bubble gum
Purple smells like grape (the package says it's supposed to smell like blackcurrant)

I bought a bunch of them on close-out a couple of years ago, and I'm down to my last few dozen. In fact, I only have one or two green scarves left, but more of the others. Perfect for kids of all ages, they make unique and much-talked-about holiday gifts!

I normally sell these for $8 plus $5.95 shipping. Get yours today and I'll give you 1 free with each 3 you purchase. I'll also charge you only the actual shipping cost, so if you only want one scarf you won't get hit with a big postage charge. (You can go to usps.com and estimate the postage, each scarf is about 7 ounces mailing weight, coming from zip 27713.)

Interested? Send an email to luckygirltrading [at] yahoo.com with the number of scarves you'd like, your color choices, and mailing address. I'll confirm I have the quantities and colors you want, weigh them in a shipping envelope or box, and send you a PayPal invoice.

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 9

2009-11-21T01:33:00.001-05:00

Happy November 21! Today's special is a free gift with your purchase of $25 or more at my LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy store. Make your purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, send me a message with the words "Day 9 Deal", and I'll include a special gift worth at least $10 with your order. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 8

2009-11-20T01:24:00.002-05:00

Happy November 20! Today's special is 25% discount on this beautiful gold cross necklace. 10K yellow and white gold, adorned with a large gemstone and diamond accents with an 18" gold chain, it's a perfect gift for yourself or someone special. Your choice of amethyst, blue topaz, or ruby. Purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll reduce the price from $185 to $138.75. Just send me a message with the words "Day 8 Deal". Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 7

2009-11-19T02:00:00.002-05:00

Happy November 19! Today's special is a 25% discount on this beautiful sterling silver necklace. Adorned with marcasite and CZ, this necklace is destined to be cherished for years to come! Purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll reduce the price from $25 to $18.75, plus the actual shipping cost. Just send me a message with the words "Day 7 Deal" with your zip code and email address, and I'll send you an invoice for the correct amount via PayPal or Google Checkout. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 6

2009-11-18T00:08:00.001-05:00

Happy November 18! Today's special is Buy 2 Get 1 Free on any fused glass items from my LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy store. Make a purchase of 3 or more fused glass items before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll refund the cost of the lowest-priced item if you pay immediately, or send you an invoice reflecting the discount if you prefer. Just send me a message with the words "Day 6 Deal" when you check out. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments on fused glass items only. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 5

2009-11-17T03:42:00.003-05:00

Happy November 17! Today's special is 25% discount on either of these beautiful sterling silver and gemstone bracelets. Your choice of sterling silver hearts set with amethyst, citrine, garnet, peridot, white topaz, and swiss blue topaz gemstones, creating a lovely rainbow of color and sparkle; or the same sterling silver bracelet set with garnets! The bracelets are 7.25 inches long and about 1/8 inch wide. Purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll reduce the price $57.00, plus the actual shipping cost. Just send me a message by leaving a comment below or sending an email to luckygirltrading at yahoo dot com, with your choice of bracelet, the words "Day 5 Deal", and your email address and zip code, and I'll send you an invoice for the correct amount via PayPal. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 4

2009-11-16T00:33:00.003-05:00

Happy November 16! Today's special is 10% off any kumihimo braided necklace purchase from my LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy store. Make your purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, send me a message with the words "Day 4 Deal", and I'll either send you a corrected invoice or refund your overpayment. This offer is good for both U.S. and international shipments. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 3

2009-11-15T00:11:00.006-05:00

Happy November 15! Today's special is 25% off the purchase of this Sterling Silver Round Bead Lariat. It's 18" long, and the beads slide so you can adjust the length of the dangle.

Send a message to me at luckygirltrading at yahoo.com or leave a comment on this post before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, with the words "Day 3 Deal" and your zip code and email address, and I'll send you an invoice via PayPal for $11.25 + 2.75 postage, for a total of $14.00 (Postage outside the U.S. is $3.50). I also accept checks and money orders from U.S. customers, just let me know your preference. Want more than one? Additional lariats are just $11.00 each with zero additional shipping. This offer is good today only, so don't wait! Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 2

2009-11-14T00:26:00.008-05:00

Happy November 14th! Today's special is a big discount on these gorgeous jewelry boxes.

These charming fabric-covered boxes are a perfect way to protect your jewelry. They feature padded tops and beautiful floral designs, and there's a convenient mirror inside the lids. A 3-compartment lift-out tray protects a large compartment below. Approximately 6 x 6 x 4", available in brown with green interior or black with red interior. These can be yours for $22 each plus actual postage charges. (Want to estimate postage? You can use the postage calculator at usps.com: shipping weight is 3 pounds, coming from zip code 27713, USA.)

To take advantage of today's deal, send me an email (luckygirltrading at yahoo dot com) or leave a comment on this post telling me which color you'd like and your zip code. Just send me a message with the words "Day 1 Deal". This offer is good today only, so don't wait! Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

31 Days, 31 Deals: Day 1

2009-11-13T00:12:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday the 13th! There were more votes to hold 31 Days, 31 Deals during November than any other month, but there were also a fair number of votes for December. So, I'm going to try to please everyone and let the 31 Days span both months!

Today's special is free shipping on any order over $40 from my LuckyGirlTrading on Etsy store. Make a purchase before midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time, and I'll refund your shipping charge. Just send me a message with the words "Day 1 Deal". This offer is good for U.S. shipments only, but I'll reduce shipping on international shipments today. Check back tomorrow for my next Daily Deal!

Moving Chains to New Shop on Artfire

2009-11-08T19:26:00.006-05:00

Many of you visit my Etsy shop to buy sterling silver and gold vermeil chains. I've been stocking up, because I always ship more chain orders in the fall and winter than during the rest of the year. This year Etsy threw me a hurdle--they've changed the rules about what is acceptable to sell there, and commercially finished chains are no longer allowed. I can leave what I already have listed until the end of the year, but I can't relist any chains that sell out, or add any new ones.

While I understand the reasoning behind the decision, and personally agree with it, the timing could not have been worse for me! I've been looking at other venues to make the chains available, and I've decided to add them to my Bonanzle shop and open a shop on ArtFire.

I've spent the past few days setting up shop on ArtFire, where commercially finished chains are welcomed. To help kick off the new digs, I've got a coupon code you can use to save 15% on everything at LuckyGirlTrading on ArtFire: LUCKYME

I've still got a good bit of inventory to list there, so if you're looking for something and don't see it just let me know!

Visit LuckyGirlTrading's ArtFire Shop

Even More Earrings from Mr. LuckyGirl

2009-10-27T01:38:00.003-04:00

My sweetie has been hard at work, he's made over 2 dozen different pairs of earrings for me to photograph and list. Here are just 3 of them, all priced at $16. I'm slowly getting them listed in my Etsy shop, so stop in often to see the wide range of colors and shapes we have. I know there are several mother of pearl pieces, crackle glass in a rainbow of colors, and alabaster spheres that are gorgeous!

Kumihimo with Custom Dyed Silk

2009-10-17T23:56:00.004-04:00

Earlier this year I ordered some silk thread from Flo at Queen Creek Supply. It was a bit of an adventure: I wanted specific colors, and we had to come up with a color standard that we could both see and that wouldn't be affected by variations in computer monitors. Flo, genius that she is, suggested that I pick out paint samples at a local home improvement store and send her the color numbers. I had so much fun just playing with the little paint cards, it took me nearly a week to decide on colors for the thread.

I love the way the threads turned out! The colors are terrific, not bright or bold, but subdued and elegant. I've braided two kumihimo necklaces so far, one in light and dark green, and one in warm brown and tangerine. I've got a nice lot of colors left to work with, so you can expect more necklaces in the next few months.

I'll be ordering from Flo again, so if you've got a specific color request just let me know. She also dyes a variety of silk ribbons and cords, and I'm anxious to work with something with more bulk than this fine thread. The shop is closed through the rest of this month, but have a look a November--Flo's dyed silk is gorgeous!

New From My Kiln

2009-10-07T01:00:00.006-04:00

I had so much fun making this Skulls and Bones Tic-Tac-Toe Game. I've been looking for a good theme for another set, maybe trees? Suggestions--as always--are welcome.

Another bubbly candle holder, this one in cranberry.

And a beautiful incense burner in shades of red and orange.

And the Winner Is . . .

2009-10-01T09:26:00.003-04:00

Comment #94 belongs to Cherdon--congratulations! I've got an email coming your way in just a few minutes.

I loved all the comments. You all had some terrific ideas, and we're busy adding new beads to this style, adding clear plastic backs, and developing a couple of very different styles.

More Earrings from Mr. LuckyGirl

2009-09-28T16:11:00.006-04:00

Here are a few more earrings from our studio. Mr. LuckyGirl has been busy! Check my etsy shop to see all of his pieces and to get details on each one.

You have a couple more days to enter the giveaway and take advantage of our 25% off introductory special. The details are on the giveaway post. Good luck!

GIVEAWAY! Mr. LuckyGirl is Unemployed

2009-09-23T14:57:00.010-04:00

The global financial crunch has reached our lucky home; Mr. LuckyGirl was notified that he's being permanently laid off. And no, I'm not giving him away--he's a keeper! In true Lucky fashion, he's been taking advantage of his extra free time and is putting his metalworking and jewelry-making skills to good use.

For his first line of jewelry for Lucky Girl Trading, I told him what sort of earrings I'd like us to make, and he took my idea and ran with it. He's been testing out both fine silver and sterling, hammering earwires, soldering tiny tubes, and hand-coiling and soldering tiny springs.

These earrings and more of Mr. LuckyGirl's creations are now available in the precious metal jewelry section at Lucky Girl Trading on Etsy. We'll be adding more items often, so check back every few days to see what's new.

To help kickstart the new pieces, I'm offering these earrings to you at 25% off! The regular price is $20 per pair, but if you make a purchase by September 30 and put "blog kickoff" in the notes to seller during checkout I'll take $5 off.

I'm also going to give away the winner's choice of any pair of Mr. LuckyGirl's earrings!

To enter: Visit the precious metal jewelry section at Lucky Girl Trading on Etsy, then leave a comment here telling what you do (or don't) like about these earrings. We love all feedback, both positive and negative, so don't be shy!

For an additional entry: Write a post on your blog, linking to both this post and Lucky Girl Trading, then leave a separate comment here with a link to your post.

For one extra entry: Copy, paste, and tweet: Win earrings, support indie artisans @LuckyGirlTradin http://tinyurl.com/mjtjlh

This giveaway is open to jewelry lovers worldwide. Entries will be accepted through September 30, 2009. On October 1 we'll use the randomizer thingie to select a winner.

New Fused Glass Plates

2009-09-17T14:29:00.004-04:00

Things have been hopping in my studio this week, and I've got some new plates that came out beautifully! The two above are about 7 inches square, perfect for serving sushi or snacks, or displaying a candle or other treasure.

I've got two new small smiley face plates ready--these just make me smile! These are about 4.5 inches square and cute as can be! I've also got a blue one that didn't make it to picture day, but should be available later today or tomorrow.

You can get all the details on these plates at Lucky Girl Trading on Etsy. I've got more exciting things to share over the next week or two, so check back often to see what's interesting here. Or use one of the buttons in the right column to subscribe to this blog and you'll never miss a beat!

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

2009-09-12T22:13:00.006-04:00

I apologize to all of you who've been wondering why I disappeared. A few days after my birthday was Mr. LuckyGirl's birthday, then my parents' wedding anniversary, so we've been partying! The anniversary meant a road trip, and although we came home on Tuesday, it always takes me a few days to recover.

We held a party in a pavillion at a local club so there'd be room for all of the guests. We had over a hundred friends and relatives there, and it was great to see so many folks come out to celebrate with us. The photo above is a near-life-size plastic standup I had made from a small wedding photo. I was thrilled with how well it turned out! The folks at PartyStandups.com did an awesome job!

Here's a shot of Mom and Dad posing with their flat selves from yesteryear. The flat people were shipped folded, so they were easy to transport. Once we attached the easels to the back it became impossible to fold them again, so now Mom and Dad get to look at a giant wedding photo every day (as do all of their neighbors!).

Happy Birthday to Me Sale--Share My Celebration!

2009-08-27T00:06:00.002-04:00

I've always loved learning about how other people celebrate birthdays. Here in the U.S. it's common to give the birthday child a "spanking," with one light whack for each year. In Serbia, however, people tug your earlobes one time for each year. I'm avoiding anyone who even looks at my ears today, because I'd have enough tugs coming that I worry my ears might come clean off my head. :0

I'm celebrating with a sale! Take 10% anything and everything in my Etsy shop today. This includes all chains, something I rarely discount. And Temari ornaments and Kumihimo necklaces, things I've never discounted before. And of course it includes all fused glass jewelry, glass decor items, supplies, craft books, and whatever other treasures you may find there.

Include a Happy Birthday message in the notes to seller as you check out, and I'll refund your overpayment or send you a revised invoice before you pay, whichever you prefer. Shop now, this sale ends at midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time.

Lucky Me, I Won More Giveaways!

2009-08-22T00:22:00.003-04:00

I won this marvelous Jasmine Vanilla Solid Sugar Scrub from Dancing Mooney. I had been doing a bit of blog-hopping, landed at Mooney's Musings, and discovered that she was looking for suggestions for new scents. I suggested one of my all-time favorite combinations, jasmine and vanilla, and now everyone can enjoy luxuriously scented, fabulously feeling skin!

I also won this lovely set of birthday cards from BeeDazzles Gifts! They're exactly what I needed to have on hand for those birthdays that sneak up when I'm not paying attention. Check out Bee's Buzzings to keep up with new designs and new giveaways!

Is This Too Odd? Slumped Salsa Jar

2009-08-12T00:37:00.004-04:00

Instead of slumping a wine bottle in my kiln, I thought I'd try something a little different. I sprinkled pearly white mica powder inside a clean salsa jar, fired the kiln until the jar was flat, let it cool, and this is the result. I think it looks a bit like snow, and I like the idea of something cold taking the place of spicy hot salsa.

It is different than anything I've done. The shape is not as graceful as a wine bottle, and Mr. LuckyGirl actually turned up his nose and made a face when I showed him the jar. But what do you all think? Can you imagine this little dish in your home, or giving it to someone as a gift? I have a lot of empty jars here, and could fill a couple of kiln loads before I run out. Or I could toss the jars in the recycling next week.

Oh, and if you've fallen in love with this jar and absolutely must have it, you can find it in my Etsy shop.

Fused Glass Candle Holders

2009-08-04T12:50:00.005-04:00

I finished these two candle holders before my surgery, and they've been forgotten in a corner ever since. I found them earlier this week and got excited all over again--I love the way they came out! The frothy bubbles in the blue candle holder above are just amazing with a lit candle inside. I can't capture that look well with my camera, so you'll have to take my work for it. Or buy it and see for yourself! ;)

The cranberry colored candle holder below has a beautiful range of colors and visual texture. Although it's not made with dichroic glass, you get a similar shifting of colors in the light, and it retains it's translucent qualities in candle light. Both pieces are sized to hold tea light candles, and the cranberry holder is just tall enough to hold a votive.

Handmade Highway is on Video!

2009-07-31T22:03:00.002-04:00

I've been seeing a nice flow of traffic to Lucky Girl Trading on Etsy from the Handmade Highway, and I'm excited to see that it's developing into a solid resource for shoppers. Whether you're shopping for the perfect gift for Auntie Mae or unique, handcrafted items to stock your retail store, the Highway is the ideal place to start your search. And if you're an artisan or crafter interested in reaching a larger audience, I recommend you cruise on over and get your own stop on the Highway.

I Can Tie My Own Shoes!

2009-07-26T16:00:00.005-04:00

This week I managed to tie my shoes--all by myself! It makes me feel like a little kid to say that, but it was a really big achievement, so it's all good. :) I can't manage the pepper mill yet--freshly ground black pepper is my next goal. I'm continuing to gain strength and control in my hand, so I should be back in my workshop soon!

I've added a couple new chain styles to my inventory. I love these gold vermeil box chains! You get the look of gold, and since the gold is layered over sterling silver (unlike like gold-plated or -filled chains, which are base metal at the core), the chain is much more affordable than solid gold and completely made with precious metals.

These huge 4mm sterling silver ball chains are just plain fun! Perfect for the guys, and works well for women, too. I currently have both styles in stock in 16", 18", 20", and 24" lengths.

Are You Feeling Lucky? Win $25 Credit at Lucky Girl Trading

2009-07-19T06:31:00.002-04:00

I love doing giveaways, and I love entering other people's giveaways. That said, I've spent a fair amount of time reading giveaway posts. Laane, an awesome blogger in The Netherlands, has written absolutely the nicest giveaway post that I've ever read. And it's about me--because she's giving away a $25 gift certificate to my shop!

Go check out her lovely blog, Laane on the World, and enter the giveaway. Spend a few minutes nosing around if you can; Laane always has something interesting to say!

New Slumped Bottle Plates

2009-07-07T17:49:00.008-04:00

I've been slowly working at getting photos taken and descriptions written for some of the pieces I had finished before my surgery. The doc told me not to push myself at all, and to have a very boring month. I've listened, and it's driving me nuts! I can't wait until I can use my right hand again. And I'm sure my family feels the same, I know they're tired of tying my shoes.

I've got another "tie-dye" bottle ready, this one is yellow, pink, and orange. It's so cheerful! And I was thrilled with the way this Grey Goose Vodka bottle came out. All of the printing on the bottle is intact, and it's lovely! Apparently someone else thought so too, because it's already been sold.

This cobalt blue tequila bottle came out nicely too. There's something about blue glass that catches everyone's eye! My favorite, though, is this Midori bottle. All of the lovely, bumpy texture of the original bottle held up through the kiln-firing process, even as the bottle slumped to a fairly flat shape.

Cruise the Handmade Highway

2009-07-02T22:45:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited to get my own stop on the Handmade Highway! It's a new site where you can list yourself and your creations so that bloggers looking for shops to feature or sponsors for giveaways can find you. Created by the amazing Lori of Risky Beads, I think this will turn out to be an incredible resource for all lovers of handcrafted goodness.

Registration for the Handmade Highway takes only a couple of minutes and $5.00. I think that's an incredible bargain! You have to meet a few qualifications, though: at least 5 items for sale somewhere (Etsy, Artfire, your own dot com site, etc.); quality pictures that engage the customer; and a good customer service reputation.

Lori's offered a special bonus for readers of my blog! Register on the Handmade Highway through tomorrow, July 4, for only $3.00. Use "Lucky Girl Trading" as the referral code when you sign up.

And if you're a blogger looking for someone to interview, or an artisan to feature, you might want to check out Find A Feature, the flip side of the Handmade highway.

Slowly But Surely

2009-06-26T10:49:00.005-04:00

I thought I'd be able to use my recovery time to catch up on paperwork and email, list new items that I made pre-surgery and have been sitting here, etc. I've managed to make only tiny bits of progress, but I'm getting stronger every day so maybe I'll be able to pick up the pace. Yesterday I managed to write a short grocery list. It looked like it had been written by a 5-year-old, but it's the first time I've been able to use a pen for more than my signature in over a year! Yippee!

And I got my first incense burner listed for sale. I love this piece, the cloudy pattern has a beautiful contrast with the translucent cranberry glass. I've got a dozen or so more designed in my head, just waiting for the doc to okay me to cut glass again.

My Plate for the Local Animal Rescue

2009-06-22T18:29:00.003-04:00

Recovering my my thumb joint replacement surgery has taken a lot more of my energy than I expected. My days have gone something along the lines of shower, nap, get dressed, nap, eat something, nap. I'm starting to take a few less naps, but I still can't do much without some assistance, and I'm getting really bored. Not being able to make anything is getting to me, so the most constructive thing I'm doing now is learning to be a bit more patient.

I did manage to get some help taking photos of things I made last month. I love this plate, it's a beautiful band of green sandwiched between two bands of blue, fused with a layer of clear, and then slumped in a mold to create a nice curve. It's going to a local animal rescue organization as a donation for their fundraiser. I hope they make a nice bit of cash for it!

I Have a New Thumb Joint Celebration Sale

2009-06-12T17:44:00.005-04:00

You might have noticed me complain once or twice (or a gazillion times) about the arthritis in the joint at the base of my thumb. On Wednesday I had the offending little bone removed, and replaced with a wad of tissue taken from one of my tendons. This should last longer than I do, and I'm so excited about regaining full use of my right (dominant) hand!

For now though I'm sprawled on the sofa, my hand wrapped in many layers of bandages and a rigid brace, enjoying a nice pain pill buzz. Typing this short post is probably the only constructive thing I'll do today, so I've decided to have a sale.

Shop at my Etsy shop between now and Friday, June 19--the day I get a new rigid but removable brace--and save! Just type "NEW THUMB" in the comments to seller box during checkout and I'll either send you a revised invoice or refund your overpayment.

Buy 1 item, Save 10%
Buy 2 items, Save 15%
Buy 3 items, save 20%
Buy 4 items, save 20% and get FREE shipping
Buy 5 or more items, save 20%, get FREE shipping and a free GIFT

I've Been on Vacation

2009-06-06T20:24:00.003-04:00

I snuck away last week to spend a few days visiting my oldest daughter and my grandson in Indiana. I couldn't go without a few surprises for Gabriel, and this cute shirt was one of them. (I forgot to take my camera, so I'm hoping someone will snap a photo of him modeling this and send it to me. Yes, dear, that's a hint!)

I found it at Bella's Sweet Boutique, and everyone has "ooohed" and "ahhhhed" over it! Bella has a great selection of things for your little darlings, in fact I had a very difficult time not buying half of her inventory. Click on over and have a look around, and make sure you check out the bargains in the sale section!

Maybe I Am a Fan of Vintage

2009-05-28T18:00:00.003-04:00

I searched and searched for a thermometer to hang in my studio--got to keep an eye on temp in there! I've always been a fan of new and shiny things, but after spending more time than anyone should looking for the perfect thermometer I discovered this gem!

It's perfect! You may remember that Mr. LuckyGirl and I got married in a hot air balloon over Niagara Falls. I've got this lovely old thermometer hanging in my studio now, a reminder of that wonderful day every time I check on the temp. And I get to learn temps in Celcius--a Fahrenheit scale is there, but it's much smaller, so the Celcius temps are easier to read from a distance.

And I found it on Etsy! Is was at Fab Pad, a shop with a delightful collection of vintage treasures and terrific customer service. Go check it out!

New Tri-Color Braid Chains

2009-05-24T20:50:00.003-04:00

I've been itching to get busy in my studio, but for the past few weeks the arthritis in my hand has been making it impossible. This week Mr. LuckyGirl had lapband surgery, so I've been a little busy as a one-armed nurse. Between the two of us I'm not sure that we equal a single able-bodied person right now, so life's a bit extra challenging. Mr. LuckyGirl is adjusting nicely, and I've got a thumb-joint replacement in the schedule, so things should be humming along here soon.

The good news is that I've been sorting through a huge shipment of sterling silver chains. I love this tri-color braid chain! It's sterling silver, with one strand left shiny silver, one plated in rose gold, and the third strand plated in yellow gold. It's a flat braid, about 5mm wide, and I have them in 16-, 18-, and 20-inch lengths. They look fabulous alone and with a large-bailed pendant, and coordinate beautifully with most other jewelry.

Weekend Gem and Jewelry Show

2009-05-19T23:22:00.004-04:00

Mr. LuckyGirl and I drove to northern Virginia this past weekend to shop at a huge jewelry and gem show. There were hundreds of booths, thousands of shoppers, the prices were high, and surprisingly the majority of sellers were less than friendly. I learned a lot about how not to treat your customers, both in the wholesale and the retail sections of the show.

We came home with some blue topaz cabs, a few pretty pink tourmaline cabs, some things I've already forgotten, but my favorite find was the cabs in the photo. We met a couple who cut gemstones and they had an amazing collection of cabachons in their booth. They called these cabs Wedgwood agate. I've never seen stones quite like these before, and they're really lovely! Don't know what we'll do with everything yet, but it will be fun designing with them.

I Made a Smiley Face Plate

2009-05-12T21:30:00.004-04:00

I had so much fun making this plate! I smiled the entire time I was working on it, and now that it's finished I can't help but smile every time I see it. It's about 4.5" square, with a gentle slope, the perfect thing for anyone who needs a bit of good cheer! Just listed this one in my etsy shop, and have more planned in a few weeks. I can't wait!

I'm Closing Lucky Girl Trading on eBay

2009-05-06T23:50:00.002-04:00

I've been trying to work out a better system of juggling things, and closing my eBay store is one of the first things I've decided to do. I want to spend more time in my studio making stuff, not selling things that were made by someone else. The store will be open until next week, and in the meantime everything has a negotiable price. If you see something you like just send me a message and I'll give you the lowest price I can, so for the next few days you can shop and save big!

WASPS! AGAIN!

2009-05-05T23:47:00.006-04:00

Last spring I told you about the crazy wasp who was building a nest inside the door to the gas cap on my car. I really thought that was the end of my wasp problem. Nope. Not a chance. I opened the driver's door, and there in the little space where the inside of door is hidden when the door is closed I found this:

Is a wasp-free car too much to ask? Is there something about my black Saturn that has turned it into a rolling home for wasps, sort of an insect's travel trailer? If you've had this problem I'd love to hear from you--maybe we can start a support group. Or a rescue service for homeless wasps.

Sometimes Things Work Out Better Than You Expect

2009-05-02T18:47:00.003-04:00

I never thought about making fused glass crosses. I love playing with colors and patterns, but shapes don't fascinate me nearly as much. When my mom called and asked me to make a cross for my sister to give to one of her bakery employees I told her I'd give it a shot. I really didn't expect to end up with anything that anyone would want to wear, but I didn't tell her that.

My first challenge was designing a cross that wouldn't turn out lumpy and blobby. The easiest thing to do would be to layer one piece of glass on top of the other, but I knew that would come out of the kiln with an interesting shape. Not necessarily the shape of a cross, but interesting. I don't have a saw in my studio yet, so trying to cut a single piece of glass in a cross shape was out of the question.

This left me with no other option but to cut small pieces and fit them together, like a puzzle. Ahhh, the challenge of symmetry! Making two things exactly alike is not one of my strong points, and a lopsided cross can't even be called interesting. After making 6 or so (not very good) crosses I created the one in the photo, and both my mom and sister love it! It's pink from some angles, and shifts to green and yellow at other angles.

In fact they like this cross so much they've been showing it off all over town. My mom's always been my best sales rep, and last night she called with a list of custom cross pendant orders. Can I make one with the same pink-to-green glass? And a purple one? Do I have any blue? So I'm headed into my studio to cut and piece more crosses. If I can manage to create a few extra I'll list them in my Etsy shop. Feel free to follow my mom's lead and put in your color requests!

I Never Thought I'd Get Excited About Dishcloths

2009-04-28T23:45:00.005-04:00

Really. Who gets excited about dishcloths?

We desperately needed some new ones, so I searched Etsy and found this beautiful set of orange and yellow cloths hand crocheted from Yarn Coture. These cloths are bright and cheerful, soft, absorbent, and extremely well made. They're a thousand times better than anything I've bought from a big-box retailer, and you know how I love supporting small businesses whenever I can.

I was even more excited when I discovered Yarn Coture has an amazing selection of hand knitted and crocheted goods. Aren't these necktie scarves gorgeous?

I've Got New Ads from Promo Pixie!

2009-04-23T23:37:00.009-04:00

Up until now I've made my own not-so-good ads. It takes me hours to create the most simple 125x125 ad possible, and I feel mega-stressed the entire time. I want to expand my advertising and needed a variety of ad shapes and sizes--the thought of trying to do that myself was too overwhelming.

Then I found Promo Pixie! She created these ads for me--and quite a few more--much more quickly than I expected. Promo Pixie was cheerful and professional through the bazillion revisions I asked for. I've been placing the new ads on blogs and other websites and I get such a thrill when I see a page with my new ad!

The Joy of Hand Washing

2009-04-18T22:32:00.003-04:00

I've been working on a series of fused glass soap dishes for a few weeks now, and I've finally got one listed in my Etsy shop! Each dish needs several rounds in the kiln, and each kiln firing takes about 24 hours to heat up, hold, and then cool, so it's a long process from start to finish. I've got quite a few soap dishes in various stages of completion so I hope to be able to show more off soon.

I'm doubly excited about this because with the purchase of any soap dish you'll also receive a fabulous sample size soap from Karen's Soaps. Her lime essential oil soap would look beautiful in the sparkly green soap dish!

Look What Mr. LuckyGirl Did!

2009-04-16T21:10:00.002-04:00

I've been talking for over a year about the progress (or lack thereof) of turning our garage into my studio. What I haven't mentioned is that part of the workspace is for Mr. LuckyGirl--he loves to work with metal and create jewelry. He surprised me with this beautiful pair of earrings! They're made with sterling silver and 14K yellow gold, and feel terrific. I've been struggling to get a decent photo of them--they are amazingly tricky to shoot--and although these are my two best shots now I can't decide if I like either of them.

Mr. LuckyGirl is considering making more of these earrings. We've not created much precious metal jewelry to sell, only to wear, so coming up with a reasonable price is a bit tricky. We need your help! Would you consider buying a pair of these earrings, either for yourself or a gift? And what would you consider to be a fair and reasonable price?

New Sterling Silver Rolo Chains

2009-04-09T18:10:00.003-04:00

I've finally got the new sterling silver rolo chains available for purchase! When I look at them I automatically thing "FUN!" They're 2.1mm wide, and I've got them in 16", 18", 20" and 24" lengths. You can search my Etsy shop for "rolo," or just click the link to see all of the rolo chains. I've been thinking about getting these in a larger width, so if you're interested in chunkier rolos let me know and I'll be sure to add them to my next order.

Lucky Deal of the Week: April 7, 2009

2009-04-07T12:49:00.003-04:00

I know, I know, I'm late posting this (thanks to all who reminded me--now I know for certain that you like these deals!). This week's bargain is 10% off on anything in my eBay shop, including items that are already marked down, with shipping at exact postage cost. Most of the items will ship for between $2 and $3, but the heavier jewelry boxes will be a bit more. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading@yahoo.com. Want to know how much something is in non-U.S. currency? Try this handy currency converter.

My First Tie-Dyed Bottle Plate

2009-04-04T23:39:00.004-04:00

Okay, it's not really tie-dyed, but it does remind of a tie-dyed shirt. This bottle took over two weeks to make. I thoroughly washed and dried an empty liquor bottle, then diluted some kiln-hardy blue paint and dripped it in inside. Then I waited for the paint to dry. And waited. And waited. Several days later it was dry enough to add the purple paint, and then the waiting began again. I didn't want to put the bottle in the kiln while there was any hint of moisture inside for fear of the bottle popping in the heat and causing a lot of damage. Seven days later it looked dry, so I let it sit another day just to be safe. After a full day (and night!) in the kiln, it came out looking like this. I love the look, so I've got a few more in progress. In the meantime, I'll have this available for purchase in my etsy shop tomorrow.

My Donation for the Animal Shelter

2009-04-02T18:33:00.004-04:00

I dropped off my donation for the Durham Animal Protection Society's Tails at Twilight Gala yesterday. I hesitated about posting about it here, because it feels a bit like saying "Look what I made and you can't have it nya nya nya." I spent so many days braiding the kumihimo cord for this necklace that I wanted to record it in some way, so here it is. This is over 40 inches long, worked in a spiral pattern with spring green and yellow silk thread, with a sunny yellow fused dichroic glass pendant. I really love working with silk thread because it just feels wonderful!

I hope this brings in a nice amount for the 7,000 or more animals our local APS takes care of each year. And if you really want this piece I can make a similar one for you--but you can't have this one. ;)

Lucky Deal of the Week: March 30, 2009

2009-03-30T17:57:00.004-04:00

This week's bargain is a beautiful pair of sterling silver leverback earrings set with three genuine Sapphires. The gems are graduated in size, making this a lovely and elegant past, present, and future accessory. Priced at around $50 in a retail store, I've only got three of these sweeties left, and they can be yours for $25 each plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading@yahoo.com. Want to know how much this is in non-U.S. currency? Try this handy currency converter.

Studio Update: My Glass Storage

2009-03-27T23:55:00.005-04:00

I'm so excited--the big section of my glass storage unit is finished and stocked with glass! Mr. LuckyGirl slaved over this, sawing and hammering and drilling and whatnot, fretting whether he was building something that would be sturdy enough to protect $2,000 worth of glass. (Yes, what you see in this photo is almost that amount--wholesale!) I need a couple of smaller units yet, one for thin glass that comes in sheets half the size of these, and another for partial pieces that are too small to store with the big ones. But this is real progress, so I'm thrilled!

I Smell Good. Really Good.

2009-03-24T11:58:00.003-04:00

As part of my 2009 theme of "pretty," I picked up a couple of these glorious roll-on perfumes. Today I'm wearing Amber Sunset, and it's perfect. Just perfect. I'd try to describe the scent better, but you really can't get any better than perfect, right?

Yesterday I wore Chocolate Delight. It's wonderful--not so chocolately, but hints of chocolate and flowers. The roll-on tubes are convenient: I can carry them in my purse without fear of spilling, and it's easy to control the amount of scent. And at only $4.50 each, I can afford an entire wardrobe of scents! If you haven't been to ScentedLuxuries yet you must take a minute and look around at the delightful lotions, soaps, and candles. And pick up some Chocolate Delight while you're there--it's terrific!

Lucky Deal of the Week: March 23, 2009

2009-03-23T00:55:00.003-04:00

This week's bargain is a pretty sterling silver brooch studded with marcasite and red CZ. The rose is about an inch and a half across, and is absolutely lovely. Priced at around $50 in a retail store, I've only got two of these sweeties left, and they can be yours for $19 each plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading@yahoo.com. Want to know how much this is in non-U.S. currency? Try this handy currency converter.

More Fun with Bottles

2009-03-20T23:46:00.002-04:00

I've been experimenting with more bottles. I like how this Absolut bottle turned out: it's fairly flat except for the bottom, which has curled up in a nice way. Natalia asked if I cut the bottom of a bottle off if the bottle would fuse without the bump. When I get a glass saw in my studio I plan to give it a try. I've been wanting a saw since I first laid eyes on Deb DiSalvo's blog--she creates some of the most beautiful and creative glass work I've ever seen.

This Crown Royal bottle came out nicely, too. There are no dark spots in the glass, this was just a difficult piece to photograph. It's got a nice shape, and I think it will be nice to add some rubber bumpers on the bottom so it won't mark up a table. It might make a nice clock, like Journeys and Adventures suggested, and I might try that with the next bottle shaped like this.

Artist Victoria O'Neill suggested hanging a bottle in a window, and NothingLikeit asked whether I could put some small pieces of colored glass inside the bottle before I flatten it. I thought that pretty-ing one up for a window decoration sounded like fun, but I didn't want to risk mixing different kinds of glass. (Different kinds of glass expand at different rates, so putting glass with unknown expansion rates togther means that at best the glass will likely be unstable, and could shatter at any time. So I put a ton of pink/purple mica inside a bottle, put it in the kiln to flatten, and got this surprise.

It looks like sparkly sand, not at all pink or purple, and much more clear areas than I expected. It's nice, though, and reminds me of a day at the beach.

Lucky Deal of the Week: March 15, 2009

2009-03-15T23:57:00.000-04:00

This week's bargain is a pretty sterling silver anklet with a 2-carat Swiss blue topaz heart dangle. The anklet is 9 inches long, and it's adjustable so you can also wear it as a bracelet. Priced at around $70 in a retail store, I've only got one of these sweeties left, and it can be yours for $29 plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading@yahoo.com. What a beautiful way to show your love!

Shopping in Style

2009-03-14T20:42:00.004-04:00

I've been trying to do my part to stimulate the economy lately, buying things from indie shops and artists. (One interesting result is that the more things I buy for personal use, the more things I sell from my shop, and my buyers are not the same people I am buying from. Hmmm, karma?)

Anyhow, I got these terrific shopping bags from Annelies Bags. At only $10 each, and with a buy 2 get one free offer, I didn't expect them to be the best bags but thought they'd be an improvement over plastic grocery bags. I was so, so very wrong! They are the best bags! Ever!

Made from upholstery grade fabric, they are exceptionally well constructed. I can imagine using these same bags to carry my groceries many years from now. They feel sturdy, handle heavy loads nicely, and compact well when I don't need them. Made from fabric that was destined for a dumpster, I am thrilled to green up my life this way.

Fun with Bottles

2009-03-11T11:17:00.005-04:00

I've been playing around with some old bottles in my kiln. This one makes me smile every time I see it! You can see a few air bubbles trapped inside, and these make the top surface a bit curvy so I'm not sure how useful this will be as a plate or tray. I like the cute snowman shape it has, so I'll do some more testing and see what I can come up with. And maybe buy some more yummy Pom Wonderful juice so I have more of these bottles to play with. What would you do with this flattened bottle?

Lucky Deal of the Week: March 8, 2009

2009-03-08T23:31:00.003-04:00

This week's bargain is a pretty onyx heart pendant set in 10K yellow gold with 12K rose and green gold accents, reminiscent of Black Hills Gold. The pendant includes an 18" 12K gold-filled chain. The heart is about 3/4" x 3/4". The necklace is new and comes packaged in a gift box. Priced at around $245 or more in a retail store, I've only got one of these sweeties left, and it can be yours for $99 plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading@yahoo.com. What a beautiful way to show your love!

I Bought the Cutest Toy!

2009-03-06T22:59:00.003-05:00

This is Dottie the Ladybug, and I found her at By Nanas Hands on Etsy. She's so cheerful, and soft, and squeezable, that I almost didn't want to part with her! I did though, and now my grandson is busy pulling on her wings and chewing on her antennae. Those parts were triple sewn, so he'll have to do a lot of pulling and chewing to get them loose. Check out By Nanas Hands if you have a minute. She has more super cute stuff--I think Tilly the Snapping Turtle may be on my shopping list soon.

I'm a Twitterer! Or is it a Tweeter?

2009-03-04T13:31:00.002-05:00

Joining Twitter has been on my to-do list for a while now, and today it finally made it to the top of the list! I'm not sure how well I'll do at remembering to tweet, but I've heard it can become addictive very quickly so maybe I'll do okay. Want to know what's going on it my little part of the world? I'm LuckyGirlTradin, and this link will let you follow me on Twitter.

Lucky Deal of the Week: March 2, 2009

2009-03-02T19:50:00.003-05:00

We've been working very hard this past week to get the new studio ready to work in (photos coming soon!). Every day I add to the list of equipment and glass I want to buy! This is all making me even more anxious to find new owners for the commercial jewelry I still have in stock, so I'm going to put one item on deep discount each week.

This week's bargain is a pretty butterfly pendant in 10K yellow gold with 12K rose and green gold accents, reminiscent of Black Hills Gold. The pendant includes an 18" 12K gold-filled chain. It weighs 1.9 grams, and the butterfly is about 1/2" x 1/2" (13mm). It's new and comes packaged in a gift box. Priced at around $125 or more in a retail store, I've only got one of these sweeties left, and it can be yours for $55 plus actual postage charges. Interested? Leave a comment with a way for me to contact you, or send an email to me at luckygirltrading@yahoo.com. What a beautiful way to celebrate spring!

Wanna Get Lucky? Win a $25 Gift Certificate!

2009-02-25T16:09:00.004-05:00

Click on over to Bee-Mused and leave a comment to enter the giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to Lucky Girl Trading on Etsy. If you're not familiar with Bee-Mused, it's a delightful place to find new, pretty, and interesting things!

I Love My New Potholders!

2009-02-23T21:52:00.003-05:00

I decided it's time to replace a few kitchen things, and our potholders were the first on the list. I found this gorgeous pair at The Blue Kraken, and when they arrived they were too pretty to hide away in a drawer. Now they hang from my cupboards, and I smile each time I walk into the kitchen. They're big, too--9 inches square--so no more burned fingers for me!

I'm in awe of some of the jewelry in that shop. Go take a look at the jewelry that used to be circuit boards and plasma screens. It's beautiful and amazing!

How Do I Test Unique Items?

2009-02-19T11:59:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago I posted about a kumihimo necklace I made using mixed fibers. Toonatoons from Under the Sun asked whether it felt itchy to wear. Then Ollie McKay from Chic Boutique asked whether I had tried wearing it all day to see how it feels next to the skin for a long period. These are valid concerns, and ones I hadn't thought about while making the necklace.

From a customer's point of view, these are things I'd like to know before I plunk down my money. I think this necklace will be comfortable and non-irritating, but I don't know for certain. And I don't want the answer to come about because I'm wearing something that has been "field-tested" and isn't completely and easily cleanable. If the item was metal or fabric, I could wash and dry it, and specify that it's been thoroughly cleaned before shipping. I've seen other items sold this way--knit and crocheted hats and scarves come to mind--and as a buyer it makes me feel comfortable knowing that I could safely wash the item before wearing it.

A necklace like this one is a problem. It might wash and dry well, and then again it may develop an unpleasant texture, or the colors might run. There's not enough fiber left over to make even a very short braid, and I'm not at all sure I can get the exact same fiber mix again.

I'd love to get some opinions on this. As a buyer, is some sort of wear-testing important to you? And as artists and jewelers, how do you handle evaluating unique items?

A New Donut Style

2009-02-17T20:25:00.003-05:00

The little darlings have gone back to their mom's, but not before someone shared a coughing-sneezing-aching-fever-and-chills crud with me. I meant to post this new pendant yesterday for Make Something Monday, but I felt too bad to even take a photo.

This is a new shape in my Circle of Real Life Donut Pendants. I fused a strip of translucent yellow glass over a base of opaque white glass, and added a thin stripe of white down the center. The strip was about 6 inches long, and when it came out of the kiln my plan was to cut it and re-fire it as earrings and a pendant, possibly mixing it with an aqua strip I made some time ago. Once I saw the final color it didn't work for anything I had in mind, so I just kept looking at it for a few days.

Out of nowhere came the idea to make a triangle with it, and I'm very happy with the result. I love the way the white has created a few swirls and curves. In fact I like this so much you can expect a number of new triangular donuts from me in the near future. Oh, and it's going in my Etsy shop this evening if I can stay awake a bit longer.

There's a Cow in My Mailbox

2009-02-11T14:45:00.003-05:00

Actually, by the time you read this, the cow will have left my mailbox and be on her way to someone else's mailbox. I found this darling greeting card at The Hanging Flower Photography and just had to get one! Hanging Flower is a fairly new shop on Etsy, and I was thrilled to get my cards lightning-fast and in perfect condition. And they are just so darn cute!

Make Something Mondays: "Stained Glass" Pictures

2009-02-09T11:34:00.007-05:00

I usually only get to wear my wicked stepmother hat on weekends. I'm in the midst of an unusual but lucky 2-1/2 week stint of wickedness, so we've been trying out a few new projects. These "stained glass" pictures have been a big hit!

Start by drawing a picture on a piece of construction paper. The drawing should be fairly simple, at least the first time you attempt this. Cut out the shapes in your drawing (we used scissors to stab a small hole in the center of each area we wanted to cut out. Cut pieces of colored tissue paper a little larger than the holes you cut, and tape or glue them on the back side of the picture. Hold it up to a window or lamp to let the light shine through.

To make your picture even more special, after cutting out the shapes place the construction paper over another piece of construction paper. Trace around the cut-outs and cut out the shapes on the new paper. After the tissue paper is in place on the first piece, glue the second piece of construction paper on the back and you'll have a 2-sided picture you can enjoy from both sides of your window. (Make sure the 2 pieces of construction paper have the cut-outs oriented the same way before gluing them, or you'll end up with a very interesting piece of art.)

This post was inspired by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go!, the ingenious moms behind Make Something Monday. We'd love for you to join us next Monday!

Workshop Update: I Have a Sink!

2009-02-07T22:23:00.004-05:00

My garage-to-workshop renovation is moving slower than molasses in January. (My dad has used that phrase all my life, most often in reference to my speed, but it fits this situation.) But we did get the sink installed this week! It feels like real progress, and I'm excited!

Yes, the walls you see are white. I've been playing with all the color suggestions you've made, and in the meantime we discovered that the walls needed a coat of primer or sealant and it came in bright white. Now I'm debating whether it's worth adding another month to get the walls painted in pretty colors or if I should try to add decorative paint touches after we get the furniture and equipment in place. (Of course I know that painting shouldn't add a month, but I also know how slowly things move around here. A month might be too optimistic.)

Want to Win A Gift Certificate?

2009-02-04T14:16:00.003-05:00

I found my calendar! The other blog giving away my stuff this week is The Dirty Shirt--I just love that name! And the blog always has something interesting too, so click on over and enter. One lucky winner will receive $25 credit to spend in my Etsy shop.