Glen Shire and Shire Jewelry

Filigree work !

2012-01-06T03:06:00.000-08:00

My mom had shown me a pin she bought close to where I live. It's a filigree pin that is worn in Norway and is well known there as a special type of work they wear with their Norwegian type outfits. So I wanted to learn how to make some filigree work myself and get better at it. I asked for a neat book for Christmas and my loving sister gave it to me as a gift.I just love it and when we were waiting at the hospital for Kevin's test results which took 5 hours to get done, I started sketching out some designs to make when I got home. My first one was this one made with Obsidian and Carnelian and I love it !

then I moved on to hearts for Valentines day. I made three of them.

I'm really enjoying them ! Today I think I will make a horse and a couple other designs that I have come up with. They can all be found in my shop www.ShireJewelry.etsy.com Please let me know if you like them ! I find it alot of fun to make !

Black Friday Sale ! 15% off !

2011-11-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Not much to say except I'm having a Black Friday sale for this week ! Come get your savings this week. Come check out the shop and enjoy some savings this week ! Each purchase will also include something from us here at Shire Jewelry !

Cooking up a storm !

2011-10-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

I have always loved to cook and since I was young, I asked for cooking tools to put in a hope chest in hopes that I would have a family to cook for. I married young and haven't stopped cooking since. I raise the first crew of 4 boys and now they are all grown but wow, what a chore cooking for so many at once but I loved every minute of it. Now with one young one again and a man that I love dearly, things are so different. Learning to cook for a smaller family is hard when your used to cooking for lots of people. I still make way too much when I cook and there is always left overs here. this week the apple fairy's dropped off 6 bushels of apples and I've been canning them since then. Apple pie filling first, then apple butter and now apple sauce. we also started making our own pizza on Tuesday nights since we realized we were spending way too much at the local pizza shop in town. so here is some of our stash for the week. I could really use some more apple recipes too if you have some, leave them in the comments. thanks ~ Lisa

Keeping sooooo busy

2011-10-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

As a online seller, you always worry when things get slow yet when they pick up, all life everywhere else stops. Not the normal stuff like taking care of the family and pets but more like getting sleep, finding time to read or take time for myself. It seems that all I do these days is think jewelry and Spider Jerusalem Costume Sunglasses. I swear some day I hope to never see another pair lol I sent out 5 pairs today and 5 lockets a couple of rings Oh my ! I don't mind the business but wow, sometimes it sure comes in bunches. here's what I'm working on today. I'm still not happy with the locket but before I could say BoooOoo I had too many people wanting one. I better get busy ! The abalone is for a ring for myself and one for the shop the flowers are for earrings and a necklace, I need more color in my life and in the shops. the mood stone is for another ring.

Hurricane Sale ! 10% off all shops.

2011-08-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

Due to the Hurricane bearing down on us, I figured I would make it fun ! (I do love a good storm ) All items in my both shops will be 10% off if you use the coupon code Irene. I will ship everything out after the lights and power come back on. As you can see by this first photo, it will be crossing right next to us and the east side is the worst for getting the strongest winds which is where we will be. Were also going to be getting all the flooding but we do have a sump pump so that should be ok. I hope everyone fairs well with the storm and keeps safe ! Check out the shops.....

www.ShireJewelry.etsy.com <---Jewelry shop www.GlenShire.etsy.com <---Everything else shop

Fairy Magazine

2011-07-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

You can find my jewelry featured here on the magazine site. I just love their magazine though I've only read one so far. Its just full of beautiful photos, drawings and color on every page. Check it out ! Fairy Magazine they are having a giveaway and my earrings are one of the prizes. Enjoy !

thank you for being my teacher !

2011-06-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Its almost the end of the school for my kiddo (in fact his birthday was yesterday and now he's 12 !) To thank our teachers this year we have some neat mugs at Glen Shire ! Hand made at the studio here in our small shire.

Are you ready for summer ? We sure are !
Check these out at www.GlenShire.etsy.com

Spring has Sprung !

2011-05-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

it's been raining here so much that spring has sprung ! Now it's turning into a jungle so enough with the rain already !! It is inspiring to see all the flowers so I just had to make some in the shop and these are what I came up with. the enameled ones, I brought the real flowers into the work room so I could match them as closely as possible. enjoy !

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74187007/opal-triplet-stone-center-sterling http://www.etsy.com/listing/74186852/amethyst-stone-center-sterling-silver?ref=v1_other_2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74187407/white-violet-enameled-flower-on-sterling http://www.etsy.com/listing/74187167/purple-enameled-violet-flower-on?ref=v1_other_2

Easter sale all week !

2011-04-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

all week, there is a sale in the Shire Jewelry shop. (sale ends May 1st.)
Just enter the code Easter11 in the coupon box and it will take 15% off automatically !

two more lots of rings posted

2011-04-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

I did some craft shows a while back and these were the rings I took with me. Some were made in the store we had, others made here. Anyway, I forgot about them since they were all still in the show trays and I just found them all this last week. I have another huge lot going up some time this week of all the vintage rings I have as well but that's for another day and time. Enjoy ! These can all be found in
www.ShireJewelry.etsy.com

Shire Jewelry- Glen Shire's photostream

2011-04-20T07:08:00.001-07:00

Shire Jewelry- Glen Shire's photostream on Flickr.

You can see all my photos on flicker here !

Rings and Things !

2011-04-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here is another up date for the shop - just a couple rings this week going in there. I love all the new designs but I didn't make them all in one day lol They have been sitting in a box waiting to be listed and then forgotten about so now that it's spring and time to clean out the boxes, I figured now is as good a time as any ! So off to the shop they go and more to come soon I'm sure. If it would stop raining out long enough to get better photos that is ! Enjoy !!

Oh and another horsey thrown in for good measure.

busy busy spring

2011-04-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

I'm always forgetting to up date the blog when new things are available in the shop. I am slowly loading up the new things as I go and forgot that I had this bunch in a box waiting to be listed. I actually have many boxes of stuff like that to list, it just all takes time and well, I'm blond and forget. lol so here are some new things that will be listed this week as I go- probably a couple at a time. Then I will dig out the rest. thanks for keeping up with my shop, it means the world to me that you are watching me on my adventure ! ~Lisa

Busy spring work.

2011-03-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

I've been trying hard to keep working some every day in hope that after a while my shop will be found by people and will do well. I love what I do and hope to continue. I'll be adding more each week and soon there will be halter tags for horses and dog and cat tags that have a decorative flair. I hope you enjoy the new work as much as I love making it. Laurie L., thanks for being my first groupie ! I love that you came back more than once to purchase something ! I wanted to send you a little something extra and the tag was a great idea. May Bella wear it well.

If you like to keep up on people's flicker accounts, mine is here.. Flicker Thank you everyone for continuing to follow me !

Cha cha cha changing !

2011-03-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Change
Most people hate change and yet my life seems so full of it but I have grown accustom to change in my life and think that it has finally come to a point when I expect it. Most people call me a strong person because of all the change in my life but I feel weak because of it all. I guess outward appearances are very different from the inside of a person.
I grew up wanting to be a veterinarian and here I am a jeweler making my own jewelry. Not what I expected to do in my life but now I'm loving it.
I've raised 5 boys in my life, I never thought that I would have that many and only boys but I loved every minute of it and they make me who I am today. They grow older and move out which is one change I have to say that I truly hate. If I could keep them always closer, I would be the happiest woman ever but they grow up, have children (yes, I'm a grandma) and one even passed away too young at 21. He will be forever missed. They are all forever in my heart.
I've had every kind of animal I ever could, owning a small farm at one time with cows, goats, chickens & horses to name a few. Now here in our small house, we have just cats and dogs and breed our collies each year.
The last 7 years of changes have been the hardest but they have also lead me to the most happiest in my life that I have even been. I moved from the worst relationship ever into a fantastic one with a man that I always find amazing each and every day. Thank you Kevin for Loving me ! Even now with my terrible health, he stands by me through it all. He takes off of work for every doctor appointment, hugs me when I'm down and listens to me ramble when I need to talk about nothing. He inspires me to grow each and every day.
Life is about change and even though its hard at times, without change, we can never grow into what we love.

Find out what these other folks feel about the subject of change:

1. http://annhartleystudio.blogspot.com/
2. http://janedeauxmetalfabrication.blogspot.com/
3. http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
4. http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
5. http://2trickponystudio.blogspot.com/
6. http://sassyglassdesigns.blogspot.com/
7. http://beadsnbanglesbykim.blogspot.com
8. http://kobrienjewelry.blogspot.com
9. http://www.artaddict.wordpress.com
10. http://www.abellablue.com/blog
11. http://luxedesignworkshop.blogspot.com
12. http://glenshire-shop.blogspot.com/
13. http://beachstonz.blogspot.com/

Etsy Slow down ?

2011-03-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk on Etsy of all the new silly things they are adding to the web site, people's pages and all over the site. People are up in arms about all the new changes and it has made for very S L O W sales this month. Due to the fact that part of what I make pays my medical bills and for other things we need here at home,I had to step up my game by adding another shop but someplace different. So now, I have a new shop here on ArtFire !! come check it out ! http://www.artfire.com/users/ShireJewelry
for now, it's just my jewelry but if it goes ok, then I will add the other things there.

Chatty Metalsmiths - Talk about change

2011-02-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

I thought doing this blog all about change would be simple, a breeze. The more I thought about it, the more lost I got. So much change in my life in the last 5 years, it's really hard to know where to start. Then I had one of those lovely chats with my mom this afternoon. She was telling me how much I've changed in life. From this kid that My life has taken many changes but now life is very good. I'm doing what I love- working with my hands making things with metal in stones for one shop and then playing with the silly stuff for the other shop. I have a wonderful man in my life that treats me better than gold and 2 sons that love me to death. What else could a woman want ? Change is good when you learn to grow with that change and work with what you have, while trying to enjoy every moment of life. I love my life now and I wouldn't change much of anything except maybe my health. Life is good in our little shire here in New Hampshire and I'm loving every minute of this new me !
(even the house is changing color !)

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly”
– Henri L. Bergson
Please stop by my fellow metalsmiths blogs to read what they have said about this topic!
love ~Lisa

1. http://annhartleystudio.blogspot.com/
2. http://janedeauxmetalfabrication.blogspot.com/
3. http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
4. http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
5. http://2trickponystudio.blogspot.com/
6. http://sassyglassdesigns.blogspot.com/
7. http://beadsnbanglesbykim.blogspot.com/
8. http://kobrienjewelry.blogspot.com
9. http://www.artaddict.wordpress.com
10. http://www.abellablue.com/blog
11. http://luxedesignworkshop.blogspot.com
12. http://glenshire-shop.blogspot.com/
13. http://beachstonz.blogspot.com/
14. http://chrissilynn.blogspot.com/

new jewelry

2011-01-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

I've been working hard at getting new jewelry in the shop every week and I have been having fun making new types of things. This week was butterfly wings and rings. I love making things with Butterfly wings - natures jewls !

www.ShireJewelry.etsy.com

new web site !

2011-01-10T02:58:00.001-08:00

I forgot to post it here but I moved all the jewelry to a new web site since I felt it was getting lost in among the other things in Glen Shire. the new web site is www.ShireJewelry.etsy.com Now you can find all your jewelry needs here and if you'd like a custom item, don't be afraid to ask. I'm coming up with lots of new ideas and will start on some of them when my name stamp comes this week. Then I can stamp my name on each and everything I make. I'll be the new Christian Dior lol thanks, Lisa

Black Friday !

2010-11-26T06:54:00.000-08:00

Sale Sale Sale Sale !!!!!!!

Just put in the coupon code of BLACKFRIDAY10 on etsy and you'll get 10% off all items in the shop. Have fun shopping !

Vampire Diaries locket ~Done !

2010-11-01T03:28:00.000-07:00

I was making this for a customer and now it's finally all done except setting the pin in the hinge. I think that's the hardest part, at least for me. I'm a learn as you go gal and this one has been a learning experience all as I went. It was my first gem stone setting and it came out fine. I watch alot of blogs that show their work on how it's done and luckily I'm one of the people that picks up learning the best that way. Show me how to do something by photos and video and I can usually do it. I am very thankful for that gift! My mother also taught us to craft growing up and it made us think and do for ourselves as we grew. Every time I craft I think of her and how that time together made me feel close to her and her love. I know my sister Cherish's that gift as well as we both pass it on to our children.
Anyway, before I get all sappy, here's the locket I made this weekend. Now on to Bella's Moon stone ring, someone at the local grocery store said she would give us our food for free for that ring lol (I should have taken her up on that since we spent a ton that day)

New Toy !

2010-10-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've wanted one of these forever and we finally got one today ! We now have our own flat lap for the many hundreds and hundreds of pounds of slab stones we have here. So after I get a new Diamond wheel, we will start playing with it to turn our stones into Cabochons and then I will have more to play with when it comes to making silver and stone necklaces and rings. I can't wait to try it out !

On another note, I had someone order a custom order of a locket made to look like the one on the Twilight series. I guess it's something Bella is wearing. People just love to have what is worn by their favorite characters in the movies and on TV. I just have to set the stone and clean it up and then it's done. Hope your having a great Halloween ! ~Lisa

New Post !!

2010-10-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

it's been way too long since I've posted. Life has a way of changing and mine did it with a bang this summer. With a bit of double vision, I thought I better go have my eyes checked for the new glasses I would need. 5 doctors later, it was decided that I had a large brain tumor right smack in the middle of my brain. Its just not what someone wants to hear when life is going really well, you finally have a good man in your life that treats you like gold and your business on line is going well too. So after lots of tears and pain, I'm trying hard to pull up my big girl panties and get on with my life. I'm trying hard to ignore the thought of surgery and yearly MRI's the rest of my life and dive deep in work and enjoying life. So, if you missed me, this is why, I was having a pity party. if you didn't oh well, the party's over anyway. So this month I joined a swap, I haven't done one in ages ! Mine was a earring swap- kind of silly since I am allergic to metal and never wear them but I will try. these are the one's I made. Did I say my eye sight is shot too now - well close up for small things anyway, so these were hard to do ! but they are pretty and I had these triangles of metal so I decided to use them. Enjoy, Lisa !

Have you seen our puppies ??

2010-06-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

http://shirecollies.com
You should check them out ! They are the cutest thing around.. I love them all but this one is my favorite
Check them out here.....

Tea Cups !

2010-06-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

wow, every time I think I will write here every other week, it falls right off when other things get in the way. Well I figured I better get busy listing these beautiful tea cups. I only have about 22 sets of them. lol here's a couple of photos just to get your drooling if you like tea cups and if you don't, not to worry, more jewelry and other type of things will be listed soon.

SALE March 2nd till March 17th 20% off

2010-03-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday the truck broke. We have no idea what it will cost to fix but to help defray the costs, I am having my first sale. Here are the details.....
♣ This sale will last from March 2nd till March 17th (by midnight it ends-Payment must be paid by then) ♣
Everything is 20% off during that time. I will either send you a refund through paypal or you can order something and I can invoice you the new amount. Just let me know.

if you see something you like and would like it a bit different, just let me know and I'll see what I can do. (if it doesn't involve a trip anywhere to complete it, I'll be happy to help.)
If your looking for some Dharma things (page 4 of the sold section) Let me know, I have plenty left here.

The Enameling Process

2010-02-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

Someone wanted to know about the enameling process. Well, there is alot to it even though it looks easy, it can be a real pain in the %$#&!
I start by getting my design and cutting it out of the copper with my metal saw. I only broke a couple of blades this time lol Then take it to the Dremel and sand the edges. Then finally file the edges to get it exactly how I want the shape and so they won't cut someone's fingers off.
Next I take it to the work bench for the enameling. I clean it all off so no oils are on the copper- oils and enameling don't mix. When Cleaned in acid, it gets a dusting of enamel-aka-ground up glass. Put it in the kiln till it reaches the orange peal stage, back out to cool and then back in with more glass to the smooth stage. Usually one or two more fireings are done and then the fire scale has to be removed. Putting metal in the kiln turns all exposed parts black. You have to remove it all with a file, scotch bright or what have you- there are many ways to do that. Then the enameled metal has to be strung on the chain after you put on the jump rings or you can solder on a pin back.
The necklaces will be in the shop when I get around to getting the fire scale off them and putting them on a necklace. :-) I love enameling but it's alot of work !!

And the winner is .....

2009-12-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

And the winner is ..... Cara who posted on this blog..
I am emailing her now and will send it right out. Thanks everyone for playing along. Another post soon to come so keep a eye out for it.

100 sales !!!! Contest !!

2009-10-19T03:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a busy year for sure and it's about time I made a new post and had a new contest ! I finally got around to adding some of the jewelry to the shop while also trying to finish the new workroom out in the barn. The work benches are all done, we just got the new hood that sucks anything bad out of the rooms air, now just have to get that installed. Meanwhile I'm coming up with ideas every day, dying to use the room to make them. I want it finished so I can start working in there !
Anyway, on to the contest !!!

what do you win ? this lovely bracelet that can be worn with the necklaces in my shop or alone. It's a full 7.5 inches of chunky beautiful vintage glass I got at a estate sale with sterling silver findings and a sterling silver Curly Horse charm. The clasp is sterling silver as well. The beads are glass and you get the one with the purple glass beads in between each hand made flower glass bead.(on the right) The other one is in my shop www.GlenShire.etsy.com

Ways to win you ask??? Well all you have to do is leave a comment! Just one please. doubles can make it hard to add up. But this only gives you one single little chance to win!!! Well of course I wouldn't do that to you. You can earn bonus entries! Just note the bonus points you are earning in your comment!
Contest Ends November 30th...

Single comment = one entry
Single comment and blogging/twitter/facebook about this giveaway = 5 entries
Single comment, blogging/twitter/facebook about giveaway, and posting button in your blog sidebar = 10 entries
button and code below

Dharma Beer Anyone ??

2009-06-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

I have had these in the works for a while. I come up with my best ideas when I'm trying to fall asleep. I love the look of them and think they will go well with all the other LOST things in the shop. Go check them out !

Not in my shop anymore- ask me how to get one.

www.GlenShire.etsy.com

inherited the shop

2009-06-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

My friend and I had a shop around 5 years ago that was going to be all jewelry. It ended up being alot of jewelery plus ceramics, blown glass and photography. We started it as a joint venture and then she decided it would be all hers and I could work for her. Being that I needed the job and she was my best friend, I agreed. I wasn't too happy but none the less it was good work and a job that I could work around my divorce court dates and my sons school. She passed away New Years last year and I inherited the shop. Wow ! I wasn't expecting that ! I was asked if I wanted the things and I of course said yes not knowing what to expect. I didn't hear from her husband till last week. Now the house is a mess with things everywhere while we try and get it all organized and arranged. Then we will list it all on the website. It's going to take a while since we are redesigning the whole office and work room to accommodate the supplies. It's bitter sweet. I made alot of the things myself plus did most of the grunt work to get the store going and now it's all here in my home. But missing my best friend. Here is a preview of what you can expect in the shop in a month or two. First we have to tear out the office and add new shelves and then check each box and photograph everything so it can be listed. Alot of the jewelry needs repairs because I don't like the clasps. other than that, it will all be up in the next month or two.

And the winner is !!!

2009-06-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please ................

Jeff He wins his nice set of a mug, two buttons and a pendant ! It will go out this week Jeff, thanks everyone for playing along ! I will make another post later today when I get some new photos of the stuff that came in this weekend. Way to go Jeff !!

New Blog with a give away !

2009-05-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

well, I started this new blog so it will be only about the shop and everything new and exciting that is for sale there.
So to start the new blog off right, I'm going to offer a give away for some nifty Lost things !!

Ways to win you ask??? Well all you have to do is leave a comment! Just one please. doubles can make it hard to add up. But this only gives you one single little chance to win!!! Well of course I wouldn't do that to you. You can earn bonus entries! Just note the bonus points you are earning in your comment! (button and code below)

Single comment = one entry
Single comment and blogging/twitter/facebook about this giveaway = 5 entries
Single comment, blogging/twitter/facebook about giveaway, and posting button in your blog sidebar = 10 entries
The winner will win this lovely LOST mug with which ever Dharma logo on it they want, two fridge magnets and a Lost pendant. You can check out the Mugs on the site here. www.GlenShire.etsy.com and pick one from there. Here is a button you can add to link back to the blog

Now if you should NOT be the lucky person who wins the 'LOST gifts' that's okay don't worry! I am selling the same gifts at my web site. You can always pre-order as well by going to my website www.GlenShire.etsy.com

The Giveaway entries will be accepted from now, until June 14th at 10pm. Then I'll take a day or so to tally up the entries and we'll let the random generator pick the lucky numbers! No favorites played here, after all this is serious business to us Lost fanatics ! Good Luck!