Tehachapi's Artist Community - grungehobbit.com

Using a free tutorial from the web, I learned to make this old fashioned style chain:

What I wonder is facts about the type of chain; how old, origination, typical use, etc.

The yahoo jewelry group didn't have an answer, nor a flickr group, and I've asked the lesson teacher (no response yet).  Anyone here have help? 

Another view:

Hey grungers, there is some experience out here and I want to ask advice!

I am the volunteer chair of a local art association gallery 'shop' area.  What does that mean?  We have a gallery (smaller than Crossroads or GallerynGifts) with a the small retail shop area with 3 or 4 good size shelf units, and a couple wall units, and a few good size bins.  The members who pay a little extra fee get to put for year round sale, prints in the bins, and small works on the shelves, typically cards, jewelry, prints, textile work, etc.

One of my artistic New Year Resolution was to create something, small and original as well as suitable as an all purpose gift at an affordable price for future craft events.

Not sure if this is the final answer, but I learned wire weaving and made this yesterday:

The good news!  I successfully fulfilled my 2009 Resolution ('Make a Profit').  But now it is time to evaluate where 2010 will lead artistically and as a small business.

A recap on how the 2009 success occurred:

The land is prepared, the house designed and delivered, the septic dug, the floors are finished, the landscaping started....

For the last couple years it's been an intense work in progress homesteading in Sand Canyon.  Finally free time is becoming available and we are able to get involved in town, and I mean not just running to Kmart for shampoo!

Finally new work to show!  Time to photograph has been lean.  Pretty Cheap Jewelry was present at lots of holiday events this fall beginning with October Ventura Art Walk and ending with the Oxnard Channel Islands FIgure Skating Show.  Sales were fine, not astronomical, but enough to make me do it all again next year.  And the one-on-one with my customers was priceless.

So what was I selling?  Here's a few peeks, stay tuned for more in the next couple weeks.

Up to my ears showing work in holiday festivals, but enough time to take some photos of my 'SMART' woman earrings.

The season of good tastes approaches!  I have been working on a line of low-tech, distinctive stationary and am shamelessly self-promoting them here! 

What did Fred Flintstone give to Wilma on her birthday?  Perhaps one of these-

Big Rock Rings

A trio of stone slabs, wire wrapped in copper or 1/40th sterling silver. 

(from left: espresso moonstone, apricot agate, labrodite)