Shop of the Week - starbabyonline

Meet Debby Carter of starbabyonline, this week's Etsy Twitter shop of the week. Debby makes jewelry with an ethnic/organic feel and loves working with glass, semi-precious gemstones, and sterling silver. No newbie to jewelry design, Debby has been intermittently designing since 1973, discovering a love of beads early in life. In fact, she admits "working in a bead shop was the first job I ever landed! The owner was smart; she knew she'd get my salary back in my bead purchases."

Her creations are one of a kind because "I want everyone to have their own unique piece." Luckily, Debby finds inspiration everywhere: a bead, a fashion, a movie. As she puts it "Seriously, it could be just about anything... how the weather feels that day..."!

And she loves a lot about her craft-

* Her materials, "There are *always* new beads coming out";

* the social side of beading: "I've met so many friends starting with a conversation at a bead or craft store"; and

* even sharing her skills: "I'm paying forward everything I've learned from others."

Debby is making a big change this season: "I'm moving my 21 years worth of possessions from my three BR house into a house-share that's already furnished. Not coming at the best time of the year for me, because I can't devote as much time to Etsy as I'd like. After my move is complete in November, I'm going to list as much as I can on Etsy as possible. There'll be some great promotions going on with that too!" Something to look forward to!

As for Twitter and promoting her Etsy Shop, Debby feels it is important to promote others as much as she promotes herself, but it is also critical to speak up and let people know she has an Etsy shop!


It's the tenth month,
so Debby is having a special
starbabyonline deal this week:

10% off your total jewelry order
before shipping
with the code SOTW
No limit to how many items!
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://www.starbabyonline.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/starbabyonline
Facebook: starbabygems and starbabyreadings
Blog: http://starbabyslittleuniverse.blogspot.com


Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Are Your Ears Sensitive to Metals?

Many people have sensitivities to metals and the jewelry that's made out of them. If you're one of them, there are some things that you can try that may just get you back into that pair of earrings you so love!


You can experiment to find out what you CAN wear!

EXPERIMENT:
First, Let your ears heal. If you have extreme sensitivities, check with your doctor first.

Always clean new earring posts/earwires with rubbing alcohol. Then you can try out earrings made with the different types of quality metals: sterling, 14K gold filled (or 14K gold), and, if necessary, argentium silver. Wear each one for a day to see if your ears still react to the metal. (At the FIRST sign of irritation, take the earrings OFF! If you think you have an infection, be sure to check with your doctor.)

You can also try dipping an irritating earwire in clear fingernail polish. Be sure to let them dry thoroughly before you put them in your ears!

Once you find what works for you, you can
* have a jewelry artist replace the earwires of your favorite earrings with earwires that work, or even
* order a special pair of earwires from which you can hang
your earring dangles!

For step by step instructions and some additional information, you can check out my blog on this topic. If you'd like me to help you with the experimentation, you can convo me through my Etsy shop. I'd be happy to help!

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations