Tips for Keeping Your Fullamoon Designs Jewelry Looking Like New!

The best way to keep your jewelry tarnish-free is to limit exposure to moisture. Store your pieces in a pouch or jewelry drawer. Storing tarnish strips in the drawer will reduce moisture and help prevent discoloration. 

I clean my pieces with a quick wipe down using a silver tarnish cloth. Cloths are readily available at WalMart, Target, KMart, etc. They are inexpensive and easy to use!

Do not swim or bathe wearing your jewelry, and remove before strenuous exercise, as sweat may dull the appearance of the surface. Try not to get sunscreen or lotion on the metal as well.

To clean the glass, I dip a Q-tip in nail polish remover and very lightly rub the surface of the glass. DO NOT soak the piece or immerse in polish remover, as this will destroy the design painted behind the glass!

If you have questions about how to care for your Fullamoon Designs pieces, please IM, e-mail or post your question. I want all of you to enjoy your pieces for many years!

Fun Facts for Fullamoon Fans

My name is Laurie, and I live in the far Northeast corner of Massachusetts. On weekdays I am an office worker, but on the weekend I dive into creating these fantastic one-of-a-kind works of art that you can wear!

Fullamoon Designs all began one Saturday morning, sitting in my hairdresser's chair waiting for my color to develop while reading a decorating magazine. There was a craft article about water marbling fabric. Now I had been searching for years (yes, years - I am not exaggerating!) for the perfect accent pillows for my living room, and just couldn't find the right style, fabric or colors. I'd rather have no pillows at all than throw my money at something I didn't really love looking at. Anyway, when I found this article about marbling fabric, I thought, "Eureka! I'll make my own!" I bought everything I needed including the Carrageen, Methocel, ammonia, paint and canvas fabric. I researched online some more about setting up the process of marbling the fabric and kept running into water marble nail videos. If you haven't seen one yet, just go to YouTube and search "water marble nails". You're in for a treat!

I found myself even more intrigued by the nail enamel marbling than I was for the fabric marbling, and tried the technique on tiles for coasters, planter pots, small gift boxes and even glass magnets. The magnets were a hit, and my husband suggested I make something that I could wear. He held a magnet up to my neck and said "Like that. You should make something you can actually wear."

Once I started making them, I was hooked! It is such a creative outlet for me. It was getting out of hand when I had accumulated more than 100 pieces of jewelry. I gave it away, I blogged about it, I sold some at local craft shows. Who'd have thought I'd be opening an online shop?

So that's my "How I Got Into This" story. Now here are some fun personal facts about myself, if you're interested:

1. I like to play the keyboard. Although I think I'm pretty good, I cannot play in front of people other than my two boys (17 and 21) and my husband.

2. I can make soap from scratch.

3.  "Fullamoon" is a nickname my Papa Vespa called me as a chubby little girl. Now say it with a thick, Italian accent FULLaMOON and you've got it!

4. I'm in an arranged marriage. Well, not really. But our moms did introduce us. And thank God they did! We've been happily married for 26 years. I am C-R-A-Z-Y about my husband! He's a cute one, too. You can probably find him in my Facebook profile pic. Go ahead. I'll wait. I don't mind.

5. I live very close to the beach, but I hate going there. Yes, I really do. I get sticky, sandy, windblown, chewed by sand fleas and the water is freezing! The only condition I will agree to go is if it's after supper so I don't get sunburned, the tide is low so the seashells are visible and there is at least one tide pool to wade through. If the sun, moon and all the planets are in alignment, like maybe once a year, I'll go. But that's it.

6. I can juggle. Yes I know all moms juggle things - work, kids, relationships - but I mean balls. Or apples. Or oranges. But not eggs. Because I'm allergic to eggs.

7. I love to decorate. It takes me a while to get it right but I love the whole process. I've been decorating this house for 8 years now. I've only made a small dent, but it's fun.

8. I'm a night owl. Who-o-o, who-o-o! During the week I try to get my rest, though, because I work in a print shop by day.

9. I am a Maxxonista. I love shopping for clothes at T. J. Maxx.

10. That Carrageen, Methocel, ammonia, paint and fabric? It's still in the box. And I still don't have pillows!

And one for good luck. Here is my Etsy shop, and here is my FaceBook page.

Aquadelic Mommy Pots

Aren't these the sweetest? I remember when the kids were little they'd bring buttercups and dandelions to me. There wasn't a vase small enough to hold them up! I wish I thought to make some of these back then. Up-cycled from  empty nail polish bottles, I water marbled the outside and put some cork on the bottom to protect furniture. Now, who's going to bring me some flowers?

www.fullamoon.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/fullamoondesigns

Fullamoon Designs Featured on The Handmade Hundred!

Fullamoon Designs has been featured on a brand spanking new site - The Handmade Hundred!  Check it out!

http://www.thehandmadehundred.com/blog/?offset=1446906392287

Each day, 12 shops/stores/websites that are turning heads in the handmade world are chosen to "Spotlight". They spotlight what is different, what you won't find at one of those big box stores. In their own unique way, each artist celebrates a taste of their own flair in every product they make. Be sure to check them all out - they are looking to serve you! Holidays are just around the corner!

Visit my Etsy page www.fullamoon.etsy.com.

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook!  www.facebook.fullamoondesigns.com.

Chunky Water Marbled Cuff Bracelets

I am excited to introduce Fullamoon Designs' new line of chunky cuff bracelets! The glass cabochon measures a whopping 40x30mm, so these are quite substantial pieces. Chunky, yet dainty with lacy filigree base, these bracelets are the perfect complement to a weekend look with jeans and cowboy boots, a plaid flannel shirt or long cashmere sweater. 

Find your favorite now at www.fullamoon.etsy.com!

Christmas Water Marbled Designs by Fullamoon Designs

I am gearing up for my Christmas shows this Fall, and though it's warm and muggy out, Christmas colors are dominating my designs!

Tadaa! Here are my Christmas pieces.  

What's that? Orange, pink, blue and yellow aren't Christmas colors? Well, sure they are! 

Each piece begins with at least three colors. I swirled black, sparkly green and a nice shade of red together. When the red hits the water it spreads out and becomes more of a pink. The more paint I use, the darker the colors become. 

Here's one just after it's water dip.

If I painted plain white on the back after the water dip, the red would remain a pinkish color. I could paint it a nice solid red but that would be boring don't you think? I chose neon yellow for kicks. I think it will make the green pop and bring that pinkish red to life. 

Now here's what the front looks like after it dried. WOWZA! Don't you think?

Let's do another one. I water dipped the same exact colors but this time applied hot pink to the back. 

Whoa! I'm loving these combinations.  

I can't wait to turn these into rings, earrings, necklaces and pins! 

I will be bringing these and more gorgeous pieces with me to all my upcoming Christmas shows:

Nov. 7

Seacoast Artisans Fall Show

10-4

Frank Jones Center

Portsmouth, NH

Nov. 15

First Annual Holiday Cheer Fair

11-6

Danvers, MA/Timothy’s Restaurant Route 1 North

Nov. 21

Salisbury PTA Winter Craft Fair

9-3

Salisbury Elementary

Salisbury, MA

Nov. 28th

Sanborn Holiday Craft Fair

9-3

Sanborn High

Kingston, NH

Dec. 5

Pine Grove School Holiday Fair

9-3

Rowley, MA

Please also visit my Etsy shop www.fullamoon.etsy.com.

Like my Facebook page for updates www.facebook.com/fullamoondesigns.com.

Fullamoon Designs' Creative Process

How on Earth do I make these?

It's a question I'm asked over and over again at shows. How do I make these?

My process is fun and messy. But mostly fun. No, I take that back. It's mostly messy. 

First I decide on some color combinations to work with. I find inspiration in the garden, in my wardrobe, in magazines or just plain in my mind. I have water-marbled dreams. Really I do! And I think up some very incredible color combinations. Who would ever think to pair orange and purple with neon yellow? And yet - just look how stunning they come out!

Next, I pick my polish. What kind of finish do I want? Flat? Glossy? Metallic?

I drip some drops in a bowl of water, swirl 'til my heart's content, then dip the glass into the paint.

The first pic above shows how they look during the middle stage. Once these have dried, I choose yet another color to hand- paint the back. If I choose white, the colors really pop! If I choose black, they turn to a sophisticated, moody piece. And all the colors in-between will totally change the look of the final cabochon. Sometimes only a bright neon will do!

I hand make my curly bails out of colored wire, choose a cord color, slide the pendant on, and Voila!

Enjoy the pics below and check out my Etsy page to see see how some of these lovelies turned out.

Or you can see them in person! Fullamoon Designs will be exhibiting once again at the Haverhill Art Market on Saturday, July 25th 12noon - 4:00pm at 90 Washington Street in downtown Haverhill, MA next to The Tap.

Fullamoon Designs' Etsy Page

Fullamoon Designs' Facebook Page