The Frugal Artisan

Thankful For ... No. 2

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:30:07 PST

Like a computer or a car, life is good when it's not broken and miserable when problems arise.

I'm talking about my health.

Costs little when things are fine, but can be a mess when things go wrong.

To large degree I have been lucky to inherit good genes, strong immunities...

The Little Things

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:23:27 PST

All my little Christmas shopping is done. Mostly stuff for my 2 kids, but a few for my siblings and parents, as well as for the in-law side of things, a teacher or two, a bus driver or so and the next door neighbor (where my daughter's best friend lives!).

Only a few of these did...

Thankful for ... No. 1 in a Series

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:54:41 PST

Two more weeks and the oven will be working overtime! (I always magically figure out how to get the turkey done while at the same time baking the sweet potatoes, extra stuffing, and whatever else I try that year).

Before the time zips by I want to share this thought. It's something...

Jackpot Fairy Tale

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:41:02 PST

It happened last week while lounging before bedtime with my 2 kids. We were all up on my bed (which is a treat when Dad is out of town) and my little 9yo girl was browsing the headboard shelves.

Amongst my old coin collection, heirloom jewelry, and magazines is a small shelf...

Holiday Gift Saving Tip 2

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:01:18 PST

Recap Tip 1| Plunder the resale sport store for outdoor equipment for kids! I visited one yesterday in search of a 'cruising' skateboard for my boy. Sheesh, they are expensive new (almost $200). Well, the reason I went there was to obtain a USED board.

VOILA! There was one,...

So NOT spendy on gifts!

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:04:38 PST

Have my list, checking it twice.

My kids are pre-teen and approaching the age of electronics (er, more so than already??).

But I always prefer active, educational gifts at birthdays and holidays. So that leaves out movies, music, video games, and mindless whatnot.

Chapter...

Rock, Paper, Scissors

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:44:47 PST

and a little time. That's just about all it took to make these distinctive cards:

(ok, flower, paper, scissors. Not rock, but you get the idea).

GARDEN POT

Full planter of sunny yellow, warm peach and harvest reds on a blank notecard. This card features sunflower and bougainveilla.

BIG ROUND VASE

Ancient...

Frugal Fashion Never Impossible!

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:04:43 PST

Guess the cost of the outfit below (no peeking at the end of this post!)

No matter what your size, your style, your age or budget, thrift stores are worth some time.

Get over walking past the lady with the flaming orange hair, avoid the rapid fire Spanish speaking mom with the...

5 Things a Day, C'mon Supermoms

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:37:27 PST

My fellow bloggers on Saving Advice have unknowingly brought out my competitive side.

I used to be SUPERMOM, with cleaning/cooking/teaching/crafting/organizing and girl scout leader hats.

OK, I gave up the girl scout leader hat.

So now I just have -

the cleaning hat (if you...

Monkeying around with Marketing

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:07:02 PST

For over a year, my mailing list for Pretty Cheap Jewelry was inside a Google Group. The concept was good:

~ free service (no cost) to me
~ unlimited number of members allowed
~ easy to add people who signed up during craft events
~ easy for people to add themselves via the...

Sweet (and no calories)

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:06:40 PST

'Time is money' so the saying goes. When I had an unexpected day off early this week with a sick kid at home, the time was spent wisely producing future savings and income!

~ Canned 7 quarts of tomato sauce for pasta, pizza and the like (using 2 giant cans of puree as a base costing...

Feeling Valuable

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:05:46 PST

Today is my 15th wedding anniversary. We have a date planned for Saturday night:

~attend a reception for a portrait artist (whom I know) at my art assoc gallery. I happen to have a piece on display there as well as of Tuesday - YAY. We will likely sip some wine, courtesy of...

No Vacation For My Tomatoes

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:18:20 PST

Didn't they know summer is over?

Of course not. This is just today's pickings.

More pickings from the summer inventory of Pretty Cheap Jewelry. Everything made by me with care, sold for fun.

All items shown will be offered at $5 plus shipping at the website above.

FLAME JOURNAL
Great...

The 3 Little Affairs-A Frugal Fable

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:40:39 PST

Once upon a time there were 3 crafting entreprenuers.

Forward Fashion Number One concentrated on just two kinds of products and (probably unconsciously) made them to follow the style of the moment.

Sweet Thing Number Two had an abundance of good intentions but never built...

Gem Show Jitters

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:06:52 PST

Worried about spending too much! The wholesale gem and mineral show is coming to town in a week and is on my schedule.

This is a somewhat infrequent occurrence, a couple times a year or less, at least within convenient driving distance. There are larger and more more varied events,...

Playing with Rocks

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:48:35 PST

Thank heaven for a frugal hobby! Spending my last week of freedom making something out of almost nothing (school starts next week and I go back to work during the day).

Low Cost Stone Pendants
Collect rocks for polishing, especially if they are in a Rock Hounding guide and known to shine well. We...

Why are these Frugal?

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:14:25 PST

Why do you suppose these are frugal?
In preparation of festivals every weekend in November, as well as a possible holiday storefront for the Art Assoc in my full-time town, I'm using as much of the summer vacation to create jewelry and build inventory. Only 2 more weeks free time...

Free, Firsts, Fun, Frugal

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:53:36 PST

Chim chimminy, chim chimminy, chim chim cheree. OK, nevermind Dick Van Dyke - Don't you love those chalk art thingy's?

This weekend is a Chalk on the Walk event and guess who is coming?
Lorelle Miller. Think Sistine Chapel, Boticelli, flowing robes.

For the first time a...

Building it and it is COMING!

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:52:04 PST

Should have written this down, but it's such a pervasive goal I couldn't forget it anyway.

Most merchandising profit comes at the winter holiday season, right? Obvious. Happily, I've had the pleasure of my books at least breaking even after the end of the year.

After several...

Vacations ... are just a few weeks too long

jimninadanza@juno.com (Pretty Cheap Jewelry) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:42:32 PST

What was your plan? I sprinkled the summer with a few organized activities, a few spontaneous dates, and a few hang around 'do nothing' times for 2 kids home on school vacation. I didn't want to (couldn't) spend a fortune on camps, and looked forward to ignoring the alarm clock/get...