Destash Update Tonight...

WOW!

That's just about all I can get out at this point…

You all just astound me :)

I thought that this DeStash of $15 pendants (on sale for $5) that have been sitting around for a while in my studio was just going to be a trickle of sales…

Yeah - not so much - The section is almost wiped out!!!

And it's only day one of four...

This morning I picked up my jaw and went into the studio to pull more pieces...

Everything out of baggies and into trays according to shape and size...

This DeStash just got serious…

And if you know me - that type of serious is followed by a huge smile and lots of giggles…

Followed by "Oh-wow… WOW! - Really? Wow!!!"

Round Pendants...

Square Pendants...

Diamond Shaped Pendants...

Candy Corn Pendants...

Rectangle Pendants…

And just incase you think this is a lot - well - my catalog allows people to pick out exactly what texture, then shape/size and glaze color. I did this type of production for YEARS… 

So there is a lot of stock. Hopefully not after this weekend though.

I will be freed up from this weight of stock and they guilt of why make new when you have so much sitting there…

Hope they all end up in your hands then onto someone you really like as a gift for them…

And if you had your heart set on one that you didn't get or you arrive at these posts after the sale is long over - well - convo me.

I do make these pieces you know…

Glazes and firings are all different, so nothing can be remade exact.

So this is what my plan is:

1. List things (I photographed the Round, Square & Diamond so far) in my DeStash Section of my shop now at $15 regular price.

2. Right around 9pm EST tonight I will go into the program to cut all the prices down to $5.

I wish I could say "free shipping for everyone" but I can't selling at this price point. 

However if you have already made a purchase during this sale, please use coupon code "FREESHIP" when checking out to avoid the additional shipping charges.

If you are on my email newsletter & in the US, please continue to use the code I sent you so you get your "special shipping" and get entered into that "special drawing" I'm holding for you all. If you forget, no worries, just shoot me a convo and I'll make sure to credit you back via PayPal for additional shipping costs.

I will try to get the Candy Corn Shaped pieces and Rectangle Pieces photographed and listed - maybe Friday. I think those will be put into special sets because of how many I've got of those…

And don't forget. If you help me promote this sale, come back and comment that you did (FaceBook, Twitter, Blog, and so on) you get a chance at a $30 gift certificate drawing…

Thank You SO Very Much!!!

~Marsha

$5 and $10 Pendant DeStash Sale Now!!!

It has begun…

Stop by my Etsy shop and check out items in my DeStash Items section for over 65% off retail pricing on selected porcelain pendants.

 The retail price on these individual pendants is $15.

But they have been sitting for too long and need to find a home with someone else…

And for $5 each - you could load up on a bunch for this holiday gift giving season!

 Each one of these is handmade in my studio...

 Each one glazed by hand with a paintbrush, then fired in my kiln to over 2230 F.

Every texture is hand carved by me into clay, which is fired and then that textured clay becomes my printing plate where I pull these pieces of porcelain from... 

Every piece is suspended in the glaze firing on little hooks so that the glaze can cover the entire surface of the piece. Quite a good number of them do not make it past this stage - but if they do - they look like these…

And there are a few sets for $10 (retail at $29)...

There are a few of these that I have in duplicates - ones that are pretty similar to what you see, so a few may be re-listed during the sale. But most are one of a kind, get it while you can pieces…

And if you are lucky enough to be in Marlborough, MA this weekend stop by the D7Studio Bead Show Table at the Innovative Beads Expo show (Fri-Sun) and take a look at Darlene's stock of DeStash $5 pendants I sent with her…

She has a lot of regular stock too - so don't expect to get those on sale…

She has specific bins :)

Happy Shopping!

Wire Wrap For Pendant Quickie Tutorial...

I quick shot these steps with my iPhone to give you a quick way to wire wrap a focal pendant.

I also spent an hour in the garden, so I apologize for my hands in the photos…

I love this fast technique for an instant necklace-ready piece...

 Photo 1: As you can see - the hole in the piece in my hand goes front to back. 

Not the right direction for having it hang properly from a silk, leather cord, or whatever stringing material of your choice.

 Photo 2: I like to use 20 ga dead soft wire - not cut from the spool. 

Wire goes through pendant from back to front.

 Photo 3: Use Triple Step, Concave Jaw pliers (or large round nose pliers work too) to bend the wire and make your loop. I like this larger loop because you can then fit it over just about any standard pre-made necklace (sterling omega chain, leather cord, rubber, etc). 

 Photo 4: Use your fingers (or pliers) to wrap the end of the wire back around the base of the loop.

 Photo 5: Work comfortable - you can either leave the loop on your pliers or take it off in your hand.

Depends on how soft your wire is and the delicacy of your fingers... 

Photo 6: Flush cut the end of wire that was sticking out. I like to extra tuck the cut end with my pliers right after cutting to make sure it is not going to poke out and annoy the wearer. 

 Photo 7: pull the pendant up the wire & start to bend the wire so the pendant sits in the bend where you want it to be.

 Photo 8: Start to turn the pendant so the wire wraps around the neck of the bale. This is the part I have to remember to loosen up a bit and not make it super straight and tight.

 Photo 9: After working the wire up the neck, then back down - when it gives just the right weight for the piece - find a good place to cut then tuck the end of wire. Again - don't let the end poke out and annoy and scratch at the wearer's neck. It will cause bad feelings towards the focal piece when in fact it is the craftsmanship of the wire wrap (don't be scared to cut it all off and start over - practice makes for better craftsmanship!)

 Photo 10: Wire is cut and end is tucked.

 Photo 11: Make sure the wire loop is in the right direction and sitting on the piece as you want it (love working with soft wire - you can just move it to where it should be).

 Photo 12: Add wire wrapped pendant to your necklace of choice.

I love using the Silky and Fairy ribbons for hanging these pendants.

Using the silks makes for an interchangeable necklace and completely adjustable lengthwise to fit your neckline of the outfit you are wearing.

Photo 13: Finished pendant as a necklace.

I hope you find this quickie tutorial helpful if you are in need of a quick and secure technique to use some focal beads you might have in your possession or maybe have bought from my Etsy shop.

I would be more than happy to do this for you as well.

If you buy a pendant and a silk together - the wire wrap is free.

If you just buy a pendant - the wire wrap is just a $2 add on.

Happy wire wrapping!

Pendant DeStash - Starts Thursday!

There is one major consistency about going from a full time production mode of working,

Where I was at with Marsha Neal Studio was from 2002 through 2007…

To where I am today (still trying to figure things out - which is a good thing).

I love to make beads & pendants.

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Pendant - Destash Ready!

I love drawing & carving into clay to come up with my textures.

I was so proud of myself to have a full line to offer to customers (bead shops and designers) to let them pick out exactly what they wanted, and I would make it for them.

Pick out the Texture. Pick out the Shape & Size. Pick out the Color.

My website still has these options - but now I want to make different things.

I want to let that creative side take over again…

It has been arising here and there...

Screen Shot of Pendants being edited for Etsy upload...

And as we all know, the economy hasn't been the greatest in the last few years…

And I went overload with making pieces back when I was traveling and selling my stuff at shows - so much so that I have hundreds (if not a few thousand - seriously!) glazed pendants that are just hanging out in baggies wanting to become something more than company to other beads in a baggie.

They deserve better.

At least I feel they do - I love all of these pieces.

They are all so unique…

Recent Photography Session with Pendants & Shards.

So to help you out with the upcoming holiday season - I'm going to be running a $5 & $10 destash sale on selected pendants in my Etsy shop starting on Thursday through Sunday.
I've got a special section set up just for this event!

These pieces make perfect gifts for a good friend or family member that likes handmade unique items.

And I realized that after selling some pieces over the weekend at the Craft show - that I love making simple wire wrapped bales for these and hanging them onto one of my silk ribbons…

And people really like wearing them - just for that simple casual perfect look…

These don't have to be dressed up all fancy to go out…

They don't need special earrings to match...

Simple elegance is the key...

Just go with the basics: 

She is an earthy tones girl…

She is a fan of blues (the pendant will make her eye color pop!)

She loves spirals…

Whatever you think of will be perfect.

And your beading friends will love it as a gift…
They will have something new to use as a fun focal for a dynamic jewelry creation!

And Darlene of D7Studio will be running the same $5 DeStash selected items sale (I just gave her two plastic shoe boxes full of pendants today for her show this weekend in Marlborough, MA).

And the pieces that don't sell - well I have yet to decide if I am going to just tuck them away after the sale for a while again - or put them back to regular price...

Thoughts of breaking them and burying them somewhere in my garden comes to mind...
Could have some great mosaic pieces made with them -
but let me not add on another project at this time.

My little ones...

I've got too much coming up on my plate with the holidays upon us, both of my kids birthdays, and my dad's health (cancer battle about to begin - 3rd opinion coming up next Monday) and I don't foresee a lot of creative studio time for me.

So get to looking - see if there is anything you want…
The sale runs Thursday through Sunday.

And to help get the word out - if you help promote this
"MarshaNealStudio DeStash Sale"
through twitter, FB sharing, your blog, whatever…
Then come back here and leave a comment for each action.
(And yes - you can do it more than once & all through the event - Thank you for that!)
I'm going to pull a $30 gift certificate winner on Monday from all the comments left here.
Which can be used in my Etsy shop in November.

And newsletter subscribers are going to get a bit of a bonus on the items they purchase.
If you want in on that, make sure you sign up before it goes out by Wednesday night with a special promotional code for you to use for this sale to get you qualified for that "bonus".

Thank You Everyone!!!

I hope you enjoy using, sharing and creating with my pendants!
And hope you treasure them as much as I do...

Shop To Stop Lung Disease - This Sunday!

This Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm you will find me and my beads & pendants here:

I will have finished jewelry available for you to purchase and take with you like these chocolate clay donut earrings...

Photo By Katy Timney

And these shard trapeze earrings...

Photo By Katy Timney

Earring and Necklace Sets similar to these...

Photo By Katy Timney

There will be silks and beads for you to purchase for your jewelry making needs as well!

Hand Painted Silks

I plan on having some items from the My Mom Pattie shop also available for purchase at my Marsha Neal Studio table (proceeds benefitting non-profits of course).

MyMomPattie Etsy Shop Necklace By Jenny of JDaviesReazor

MyMomPattie Etsy shop - Necklace by Erin of TesoriTrovati

Also a bunch of pieces from my friend Natalie Alexander that she kindly made for the My Mom Pattie shop that I just have not had a moment to have photographed…

Lots and Lots of pretty stuff!!!

And Delaware is home to Tax Free shopping!

Perfect for holiday gift giving...

Craziness All Around...

I think I am amidst a whirl-wind…

And there is no end in sight…

At least it feels that way...

It has been a summer of tests.

Physiological tests...

There was the spleen and low platelet scare with my husband (he is ok…)

My cousin lost her dear, young son in August.

My dad just found out he has cancer and is traveling up here for surgery & treatment starting this week…

Please pray for a safe surgery, fast recovery, and positive results…

Three grandmothers are under extended care of nurses and close family members.

And Saturday was the funeral for my step-brother Toby.

His death was sudden, so unexpected - and it is so sad for everyone that ever met him.

And especially so for everyone close to him.

I still can't believe he is gone...

I kept expecting to hear his loud voice and bigger presence enter the room where we all gathered for a family lunch after his funeral. 

In a room full of very loud, emotional Italian family members - it was still a bit too quiet.

It just didn't seem right to not have his voice bellowing comments over everyone else...

It shook me to the core - sitting in that loud silence.

But then my heart and mind search to find peace. 

To find comfort. 

And the one really big thing that keeps coming back to me is that in his death, he was able to give himself to help others.

He was an organ donor.

And because he passed from a brain aneurysm, parts of him still live on.

People were called that day with the news that they or their loved one was to receive a transplant that could save their lives…

Oh - and did I mention he was a US Marine?

He was always brave & strong to me.

I always looked up to him - being 8 years older than me & me being maybe 4 or 5 when I met him...

But knowing that he helped others even after he was no longer here -

that just takes him to a whole other level of hero to me.

What an amazing person...

Simply amazing!

Such a goof ball of an older brother.

So beloved by all of his family & friends.

His is missed so much already.

I pray for peace especially for his wife & children. 

And for his parents & my siblings…

May everyone stay together and be strong during such a difficult time.