I was selected for a Treasury!!

My Sunshine Earrings were selected for a Treasury on Etsy...first time..COOL.
Thnx! Genevive
Michelle Teka and Zoe

Have you been to Art Fire yet?

I joined for just $7 a month...no other fees!! Click below to sign up. Plus I think their interface is easier. Example: when loading pictures while one is loading you can search for another one to load. Plus everything to add an item is on one page. No back and forth.
Register on ArtFire.com

Very Excited....because

I got to do more enameling....weeeeee...I got it listed on Etsy...but not on my website yet. I luvvv it...Michelle

New Greek Washer Beads on Etsy

I have decided to move all my Greek Washer beads out of my Teka and Zoe Etsy store for 2 reasons: To better focus my Jewelry and to give these fantsic beads there own space. They are so fun to work with. I am in the middle of the transition so some can be found i both places. Follow the link on the right-----> GreekBeads.esty.com I will be adding new styles and colors too.

My Newest item....

How much do I love fusing silver?

Etsy Stuff

I bunch of new stuff re-listed on Etsy.....Almost filled up the page.

I think I like it....

...copper enameling that is...Now I just need to come up with $600 to buy a kiln.I also REALLY like fusing fine silver. It is addicting watching the metal turn molten for that split second. Like the terminator. So cool...
Fused silver oval with Labradorite shards:The are not on my website yet: TekaandZoe.com ...but you can find them on: etsy.tekaandzoe.com

New Greek Washer Beads Color Mixes

Scrumptuous!! tekaandzoe.etsy.com

My First Peice of Copper Enameled Jewelry

Ok..they maybe small...but these are my first piece of copper enameled Jewelry.
These dainty earrings can be found on Etsy. I think my new motto is going to be to make jewelry you can wear!....with confort and style.
Follow this link directly to there page:

Disk Copper Enamel Earrings

Disk: 3/8" (9mm)
Total drop from ear: 1"

Great Handcrafted Gifts for Under $25!

You can find these items on tekaandzoe.etsy.com and tekaandzoe.com

Dragon Charm with Red Coral Belly Necklace

Dolphin Charm on Olive Jade with Apatite Necklace

Ice Cream Cone Pearl and Garnet Necklace

Chain Dangle Earrings

Labradorite and Swarovski Sterling Gypsy Hoops

Add class to your packaging....

I have just posted on Etsy really nice Jute jewelry pouches on 2 sizes and 3 colors. Add class to your holiday sales. Your customers will notice! Follow this link: tekaandzoe.etsy.com

New items added to Etsy

I just added a bunch of new items to Etsy. New charm/bead caps from Burgard Studios, beads and Jewelry pieces....check them out. See the link to my Etsy site on the right or by clicking here: tekaandzoe.etsy.com

Or you can vivst my website at tekaandzoe.com to see all of my jewelry peices.

Whats Happens When 2 Toddlers Meet 1000's of Greek Beads?

One sad beading mommy.....

Vintaj Chose me!

Very exciting...Vintaj chose me as their customer of the month! Cool....

I have loads of Vintaj brasses on my etsy site...see link on the right------>

Today's Good Stuff

My goal is to think of one good thing a day and write a tidbit about my children daily also. My good thing for today...There are terrible fires in California and it has made for terrible conditions here in Northern Nevada. So much smoke. Well today the winds shifted and the smoke cleared. Sadly the fires are still burning. But we can breath again.
It was an exhausting day in Motherhood land. After playing outside in 90 degree heat and then taking all three of them to a QUICK run to the grocery, which in itself is a bit insane. I was pooped and we were in cool down mod after lunch getting ready for naps (mine too). The kids really love books. LOVE BOOKS...which is good. But after reading the alphabet and animal book MANY times over the last 2 years I was as not into it as I should have been. Zach came up to me with the Disney Princess Matching book. I must admit..not happy with that book. So we opened it up and started finding the items that needed to be matched with each princesses setting: Arielle, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella....ect...When we got the the Beauty and the Beast page there was Belle..as pretty and delightful. Zach looked at her and then me and said Look...there's Mommy!! How sweet can that be! Even it is is a 3-1/2 year old that things your Belle when you don't..it is very nice. I just thanked him and told him how happy he made me be saying that....and squeezed his little cheeks.Then Natalie came up and Zach lost interest went back to Calliou. We got to Cinderella and Natalie pointed to Cinderella and said Mommy!!..then the pointed to the prince and said Daddy!! REALLY!! Sometimes it is to much...when you really need it. Jeff and I sometimes feel like we are hanging by a thread as parents and Natalie thinks we are Cinderella and Prince Charming. So I then pointed to one of the other princesses at the ball wearing a similar color as Natalie's top and said..there look it is Natalie! She looked at me a bit confused then I looked her in the eyes and said "There is Natalie". She gave me her silly most squished up extreme smile and totally got it. She got it!! So I grabbed her checks in my hands and looked her in the eyes and told her how beautiful she was like a princess. She was pleased. I wanted to squeeze the stuffing's out of her.Nicky today had a boo-boo moment he fell down and skinned his arm. So sad...he is so sensitive plus it hurt and was bleeding. Zach was so sweet consoling him too. We got out the ointment and the Batman band aid and cured him. He snuggled in for a while for an all melting hug and love. He is so sweet.

What I have been doing...

Ok I have not made time for Jewelry....I am still looking for my direction. And with 3 kids...3-1/2 and 2 year old twins. I don't have the time I need for marketing right now. I have not given up but I think I need to refine my and define my style. There is just so much I love about it. I want to acid etch...I love wire work...but I love beads...and chain mail. Why can't I do it all?
Soooo for my creative outlet I have picked up Digital Scrapbooking. Since Zach was born and the twins I have done the "real" paper kind of scrapbooking. But it has been very overwhelming to keep up with books for 3 kids plus it is kind of expensive. I stuck my toe in the water of digital scrapbooking and found out how much faster, cheaper and fun it was and now I am totally immersed..Just like everything else that interests me. I am in it thick now.
Here are a few of my pages:
This is Zach (Feb '06) when I was pregnant with the twins...he was ALWAYS getting into my chocolate enriched coffee.

My most favorite things for the moment are:
Zach at the dinner table telling me with a big smile: "Your a Good Cooker Mom!!" as he eats his steamed Broccoli. I am thrilled believe me. He does not really know yet how much power that has...I am so thrilled and happy to be told I am good cooker....by a 3-1/2 year old no less.
The twins are finally starting to talk.
Natalie asking for Ba-Ba Weee's (strawberries) and Grapes are Geep's and ever time we drive by the sheep outside of town she ALWAYS chimes in Beep's Beep's.
Nickie...when I ask him something he can't answer he clearly says "I don't know" in a tone that is very incredulous...hardly believing I would ask. He also says Luck for Milk. He goes to the fridge...we makes me crazy as he is always going in and taking out frozen items, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup or salad dressing. ...So when I scold him and ask him what he wants...He says loudly..LUCK LUCK!!
Here is a page of Natalie last summer:
It is one of my most favorite pictures of her on earth.

Here is Nicky:
He is a sensitive and handsome little devil. Of all of them he wants the most hugs and love from mom.

I am not gone...

I have just been trying to re-access my Jewelry business. I first thought I could just make Jewelry that I love and people would want it...cause its nice and I like it. But I am learning there are probable a zillion others out there that are thinking the same way and there is just to much competition and I am lost in this sea. So I am really pondering what I want to do. There is so much for me to do..I am in learning mode so I tangent from beaded pieces, love silver and the Vintaj brass, would love to experiment with enameling, have experimented with acid etching and would love to do more of that....so many ideas. But then I feel like I have the delima...does my work appear to be unfocused? Then there is the whole marketing thing. At this time in my life I cannot travel and do art shows. I have 3 little ones. Can an artist be successful just selling on-line? Sadly I have to sell some thing so I can keep buying and learning. And the journey goes on....Michelle Mahler
tekaandzoe.com

The Flora of Spring

Here are some new designs I have completed for spring. All are available on my website TekaAndZoe.com. I have really been enjoying working with the warmth of the Brass with its natural brown aged patina.

Designer on the Rise!!

Teka and Zoe has been selected as a "Designer on the Rise" for Spring/Summer 2008 by StyleBakery.com. How cool!!

Teka and Zoe on Indie Finds

Teka and Zoe is now a proud member of the Indie Finds. Indie Finds is an innovative co-operative comprised of many talented independent designers. Formed in response to big-box retailers, the members have teamed up to increase awareness of indie shops and to challenge the notion that quality is synonymous with size. Together, the group is a genuine rival to high-powered household names.

New photo's added

I have added "Alternate Views" of some of my necklaces...and soon I will shoot all of them, so that you can better tell the scale of the piece. They are on a mannequin with a blouse so they are more real word....just quick snaps. I hope they help so that you can envision yourself wearing them. The dress form is a size 8ish. I say this because I am not..hahahha...so they look different on me. So all you ladies out there about a size 14...I have tried on all my pieces and they look great on a larger "platform".

Words of Wisdom....

He who messes with Blog Template and is not sure...gets an ugly Blog! I hope to have it fixed tonight...What I mess I have made...Michelle

Teka and Zoe on Funky Finds

Teka and Zoe Has a mention on Funky Finds! Check out this cool blog:
Funky Finds
p.s. Jessica Hood Funky Finds blogger is also a Chihuahua lover like myself.