NEW in the SHOP! Butterfly Wing Necklaces and a BLOG SPECIAL!

Hey folks! Ive got a slightly new design in the shop! I say slightly only because the new part is the bail. Its small. The part that has the little link that holds the chain..that's the bail. My other design has a large bail, its got a different feeling to it, maybe a little formal I would say. This new style I would call versatile. A little more casual even? I don't know how to call it exactly, but its my new favorite. The ones in the shop are the SMALL size, 20mm. I also have a LARGE 25mm, but just haven't photographed it quite yet.
I'll put the two styles together so you can see for yourself.
NEW DESIGN SPECIAL!!!
The first three peeps to purchase one of these (or all three!) get $5 OFF! Mention this ad in the message to seller during checkout and I will refund you immediately. NEW DESIGN (above)
TRADITIONAL DESIGN (below)

Mushroom Picking!

You wouldnt believe how MANY photos i take with the intention of showing what I do (work, play).
Heres what I did last week. Mushroom picking in Cape Cod YAY! My father is Polish, and as any good Euopean knows, mushrooms are a treasure to be found and eaten. He LOVES to go mushroom picking (see photo above of unprovoked kissing of the mushroom).
Heres a few pics from the outing with one of my sissies and my dad.
Im in there too (with the blue shirt). Note socks pulled up over pants for easier tick spotting.

We headed out onto the sides of the roads looking for anything popping out of the scruffy brush. You have to find the ones without the ribbing, but sometimes you cant see the underside until you pick it. The photo above and left looks like Leanne Marshall dress, with all the pleating and layering.

This is the mushroom you want.

We sliced them up and layed them on a brown paper bag, resting in the sun for a few days. We had to keep moving them so that they didnt sit and rot, and get lots of air around them. They dried in about 3 humid days.

Featured on Cuteable!

Thanks Cuteable for sharing my new fused glass rings with your readers!
I made these little glossies this past month, while gearing up for the Holidays. They are all about $10 and have an adjustable band. The band is wider than my old rings and they are SUPER comfy. I wont go back to the old style band anymore!

Look! You can see my taking the photo in the rings' reflection! Hi everyone!

start on the street 2009

start on the street 2009
Originally uploaded by PoPkO!

Quick update! I finished my show last weekend and it was SUPER! This was the first time I did the StART on the Street in Worcester. Its a big street fair with musicians, restaurants, performances galore and 240 artist booths. WOW!

I think I had my best display yet. I had a whole 10x10' tent to use, but decided to just do a straight across 8' table. This is so that people wouldn't have to take ANY extra steps to get to my work, it would be all RIGHT THERE to see. It was a success. It was cohesive and attractive. Usually I would say my display is sort of messy, though others have denied it (I'm sure many would agree), it was messy in the past. This was very organized (for me) and it seemed to pay off. People were drawn to items that they hadn't been in the past, because they were more easy to see. Also, i had bigger signs and that really helped, since I could hear people reading them aloud from the street as they approached. That's good! I spray painted a bunch of branches aqua, which gave the table some life and movement and fun. I used a lot of wood this time, so it was a little darker than my usual white and clear plastic displays, but I think that gave a good impression.
Anyways, I'm still cleaning up my big mess of boxes from last week. I had to scurry off to the Cape for the week (again) and tidy up some things here. I think this is the last last time until November that I will be in Cape Cod, so I will FINALLY be able to hunker down in the studio non-stop. I was in the studio back home for the entire week before the show, but that was the most time I had spent in my real studio since July. I cant wait, cant wait, cant wait to be back on a schedule of making, photographing and shipping every day. Summer was fantastic, selling on the pier was a blast, the show was good and now Im ready for the Holiday Show Season! HELLO AUTUMN!

busy bee/ busy butterfly

Ive been away working and playing. Im in Cape Cod! I packed for an 8 day trip and its turning into a 20 day trip. Good thing I brought half my studio with me.

Its been fun and BUSY! Im still trying to perfectly balance keeping up my business, selling jewelry on the pier, making new things (or collecting supplies with the intention to make new things) and spending time with my enormous family (four sisters from out of town, four neices and nephews, friends), and this week....building a carnival parade float to ride on for Thursdays parade! It never ends in the summer. There is only balance, and my daily nap (neither of which I am getting as much as I want) . I hadnt taken naps for years (though I have always always been a big fan and advocate of the nap), I find myself napping everyday at 2pm, or trying to at least. The days I cant, due to something fun happening or packing/shipping etsy things, I am in bed by 9:30pm.

These are the newest butterfly wing necklaces. It was a special custom order that is just so gorgoues when together. This is a side-by-side photo of the reverse of each pendant. There are two different wings in almost all of them, Can you find the ones that are singles wings? Its tricky because some do not look the same front to back.

SO, that is my update for now. I know Ive been neglecting the blog and updates- but its just the way summer goes. Im even considering when to close the shop for two weeks so that I can just sit down and create completely new items like earrings and etched glass works, resin castings and molds. I find that even when I put a shipping delay I still ship because I know it will be too huge of a pile of work at the end if I dotn slowly get it out the door.
It all takes time, but i think if I temporarily close the shop I might be able to hunker down and work work work. Which is actually what I love to do. See you soon!

first day on the pier!

first day on the pier!
Originally uploaded by PoPkO!

This is my little tester set-up. I'm watching pattees booth (painter) and able to sell my stuff while Im at it! Soon three of my sisters will be setting up with me (monique aka gurlygirl.etsy.com, annmarie aka superduper.etsy.com and april bohemianpulse on etsy! This was an easy day, simple set up with one table and dishes from my moms house, filled with sand. It was the least effort I have put into a display and think it came out pretty good! I was taking notes this day on how to best set up in the future, see what foot traffic was like etc. It was GREAT day!

Bubbles the Whale gets a fresh coat!

This humpback whale hangs out on the pier of Provincetown, Ma. My dad , Julian Popko, coordinated the re-vamp of this cement whale last year. It was originally created by an artist for the public, then spent the last several years hiding out in someones yard in Wellfleet, elements chipping away at the paint and structure. He managed to get it back out into the public eye and onto the pier for all of the world to sit atop and take photos.

Above: john paints the lettering on one side

Heres a few photos of the retouch! Were considering doing a full body re-paint in August, when all the sisters get back into town. For now, he gets some soap and water, and some touch-up paint on his body, tail fin, and white paint on the sides and new lettering . I did the lettering, what do you think?

Its been a happy little (big) addition to the pier, where people head to their whalewatch tour, hop to the ferry and stroll to admire the fishing fleet. Bubbles is always there! When we (my dad, my sisters and I) put it out, the words CAPE COD were on the bottom, but wore off over the winter. We added PROVINCETOWN to the other side, for all the photo opps. We touched up his side fin that got quite dirty form all the climbing and also added "dont climb/hang on the tail" because all you want to do is hang off that tail. Its just a natural instinct, ever for 60 year old men. Theyve been caught hanging too! But bubbles is old, and we dont need anyone getting hurt (including the humpback)!

<----Read the original newspaper article from 2008 in the left column <-------

above: dad and john workin' hard! the planks of the pier were scorching! but it was a gorgeous day.



ps- you can see the artist sheds behind him, where they sell paintings, pottery, jewelry and other handmade goodies. Its really great! The pier if full of life!

Friday : The goal post (on Tuesday)

Did I meet my goals this week?

Here are some of my goals from this week, mon-fri:

(yeah, okay you caught me, this was for last week, but it flew by)

Okay, goals for the week June 22-26:
1- figure out recycling/ trash schedule problem thingie with DPW

2- ship out order for boutique
3- get all new orders out

4- order supplies x 2 (i always procrastinate on mega ordering day)

5- exercise
6- write in my blog x 2

7- buy black shoes

8- get new printer

9- update my flickr
10-list new things on etsy

What I accomplished:
(Success 1-10, 10 being the best)

1- trash- well, i did that today, 4 days late, but im in cahrge and am taking full credit for accomplishing that SUCCESS 10

2- order shipped! done! and i even did a photo shoot with it before sending. see picture below (part of the order) SUCCESS 10

3- get all orders out -eh, this one was tricky, due to weather, supplies, and timing, AND what you consider 'all orders', does custom count? i need to be more precise when i give myself a task or i will skirt around it. SUCCESS 7 (because i wasnt clear with what this goal meant)

4- I did order the supplies, but BOTH orders came incorrectly. For one, I had given the wrong codes and got the worng items, the next was their fault for giving all the wrong things. So I have to reorder EVERYTHING. harumph. SUCCESS 10

5- exercise- I went for a canoe ride, and did some push ups. lame. SUCCESS 1

6- write blog x 2- i wrote once SUCCESS 5

7- got them! i had been putting off that task for two years. SUCCESS 10

8- heaven sent, my father GAVE me his printer. magical day. SUCCESS 10

9- flicker updated! SUCCESS 10

10- new things on etsy right now! though i did that today, so it doesnt count. that counts for this week. SUCCESS 0

TOTAL SCORE out of 100: 73
Well, its better than last week! I still dont think its a great score though. Next week I will try for more (well, THIS week)
Success of this post: 100!
DO YOU MEET YOUR GOALS EVERY WEEK?
DO YOU MAKE GOALS?
WHICH ONES DO YOU USUALLY ACCOMPLISH?

Follow all of my goal posts here:

6/15-19 http://popko.blogspot.com/2009/06/friday-goal-post.html

Behind the Scenes : Studio

Just a quick post for all the voyeurs out there! These are a few shots I just took of things happening on the studio table. I dont know about you,

but I always love looking at other peoples stuff.

Photo rocks. I put my jewelry on top of these for photo shoots. See the one with holes in it? Thats the one I drill my fused glass onto. Its probably not the best thing to drill into with a diamond bit, but it works for me.

Tools I use often. I use everything with a red handle just about every day.

I have a lot of little jewelry boxes on my table, holding different assortments of things. The little earrings are glass studs that I made for my last show, but photographing them for the etsy shop is soooo time comsuming. Ive been procrastinating with that one.

Real butterfly wing pendants, getting ready for a boutique in South Carolina.

Lacy white earrings made of metal. Love them! This is part of the product shoot I did the other day, soon to go into the shop, in the next week. Im travelling alot until next Wednesday or Thursday, so my schedule is a little unpredictable for the week.

Next up: the Friday goal post!

DIY Instructions - Babyshower Activity - How to make iron-on onesies!

How to decorate onesies for a baby shower! This tutorial is also great for embellishing baby or adult t-shirts, bibs, tote bags and anything fabric.

This is just a simple example of what you can do to make a baby shower extra special with a group activity. I like to think I channeled my inner-Martha for this one!

photo:hiding on the guest of honor behind our "shower" umbrellas.

This past week my mother and I hosted a very small surprise baby shower for my sister! The key to doing this as a group activity is having a SMALL group. I can see that doing this in a large group would be unruly and awkward and well, noone needs that many onesies. If you are having a large party, then consider doing this project as a gift item.

Our party only consisted of five women. Four plus the guest of honor. This was her second baby so it usually a smaller party, and luckily we DID have the party when we did (on Wednesday), because the baby came on Friday! The guest of honor was also able to create her own outfit for her new baby.

SUPPLIES:
COTTON ONESIES- (white and yellow) from A.C. Moore Crafts (michaels sells them too, and you can also get plain ones at target and baby stores anywhere).

BIBS (optional)- i didnt actually find any blank ones in my town. I know ikea sells them. So if you know of a place that has blank bibs please comment below.

TSHIRT(optional)

IRON-ON TRANSFER PAPER - from the craft store, you can also find it at staples & walmart. I used the one with iron-on paper for WHITE shirts. it has something to do with the background color. They also have the option for black.

SCISSORS

IRON

PIECE OF WOOD- the instructions on the iron on paper package said not to use ironing board, just wood. So i had a scrap board inthe studio that i used. My mom used the ironing board and it worked just fine though.

PENCIL- in case you want to draw out a shape first

Prep:
To make this an easy group activity, I made blocks of color using the most basic 'paint' program on my computer. I made strips of color on four sheets of paper. Another option would be to print (reverse) images of your choice on the sheets of paper, and even words.

I thought I would let my guests get creative so I just made blocks of color.

Create:

Lay out your onesie on the table, so when you lay out your paper design onto it you can move it around.

Cut the color printed iron-on paper into any shape in the world. You can cut letters, or silhouettes, polka dots, anything. If you are cutting out letters, make sure they are backwards, as you have to lay the transfer paper color-side-down to iron it.

Arrange the paper cut-outs onto the fabric.

Iron over the paper for 2 minutes on the NO STEAM setting. Just read the package directions for each manufacturer.

Let paper cool completely.

Peel away slowly. If you notice its not comoing off easy, iron again, and let cool completely.
Give to the mother-to-be! ENJOY!