Finding time to blog

I've been having some trouble finding time to blog over the past, um, year. You see, I got a stellar new day job and it has been monopolizing my time. And I moved from LA to Orange County. And I have revamped my life a bit to suit the not-so-new-anymore job (but it is still pretty awesome. The job that is.)

Seems to me that I need a little more balance, a little more bright 'n' shiny, a little more fun in my life! So, being the semi-type-A personality that I am (with hints of B, especially when naps are involved), I'm revamping the webpage (http://www.pop-culture-princess.com), putting together a new collection *hint, it involves upcycled textiles* and promising to do my best to start blogging and bringing new info to you, my three subscribers. Now don't get all excited at once! LOL!

Anyway, here's a sneak preview of the new website. Should be going live and completed in the next week or so. Here's hoping it works!

Thanks for your support in advance. You're gonna love the new website, the ease of use, and the fact that it has it's own shopping platform and you don't need to go through Etsy anymore. Wohoo!

Cheers -J

Greetings to 2011!

Hello everyone. I must admit to having been rather happy to see 2010 leave, and am hoping that 2011 isn't as challenging the rest of the year as the beginning has been for me!

I am very grateful for lessons learned, and lessons yet to be learned. Speaking of lessons yet to be learned, this is a photo of my new sewing machine I got for Xmas! I am taking lessons since my skills are rusty at best, and am really looking forward to incorporating more recycled textiles in my upcoming work. Yay - saving more stuff from landfills!

Of course with all the holidays and such it was hard to get a lot of creativity and work in, but I do have quite a few new pieces that will be making it up on my Etsy site soon. I also have just put together a Facebook page, so please like it! I will be doing extra discounts for my Facebook fans. There's a little "like" button on my blog here for it.

Thanks to everyone for your support and interest. I can't wait to get more active with craft fairs and seeing you all in person!

Cheers -luv J

Summertime

Finally, summer is here in the Los Angeles area! It's been all "June Gloom" all the time since oh, May or so. Today it is 91 degrees here at my house, am hoping to finally have some warm nights to go frolic in without having to wear a jacket or sweater!

In the meantime, Pop Culture Princess got its first press! Thank you to Nikki - muah! You can check it out at http://www.bitememf.com/2010/07/ecco-friendly-jewelry.html. Tell your friends!

I have been making some super cute earrings - no photos as of yet though. There are new listings on my Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/popcultureprincess...very fun goodies to wear with your lightweight summer clothes! All the pieces are light as a feather, but give great shine and pizazz to you! And of course, they are made from recycled and upcycled items, so it's good for the environment as well.

I am off to go take some photos - have a great day!

Meet Pop Culture Princess...and how it came about

In keeping with the Stars theme on the blog, this is one of the first bracelets I made, Stars and Circles. I love stars -- maybe because I think I am one! Delusional? An absolute possibility...

Hi. I'm Joan, my closest friends call me J, and I started Pop Culture Princess because of a ton of bad CD's. Seriously. My sister Nikki and I are partners in a music and fashion website (http:/www.bitememf.com) and we get so many CD's to review that we didn't know what to do with them when the used CD market dried up! So one night, lying awake sleepless, I had the idea that they could be upcycled somehow into jewelry.

The strange thing about this was that I had never made jewelry before. Sure, friendship bracelets in summer camp maybe, but not with metals, clasps, findings, etc. I have always looooved bright shiny things (and more than often, been distracted by them), but make them? No way. I can't even draw a circle! Martha Stewart I ain't.

After talking with Nikki about the idea, I decided to just go for it. I studied how to make jewelry, discovered all the issues there are working within the limitations of CD's and DVD's, hunted down beads to recycle, burned my hands, learned just how to use an electric drill, tried to set my house on fire, and now am navigating the wonders of Etsy (you can see my shop on my website: http://www.pop-culture-princess.com) and social networking. All because of a couple hundred CD's I couldn't bear to see in a landfill not decomposing.

Even stranger than never making jewelry before is this: I'm actually pretty good at it. Who knew??

I am constantly making and designing new items, whether for gifts, sale, or custom made. I do take custom orders, and am also looking for craft shows to display at. If you have any suggestions at all, I would appreciate any help I can get!

Cheers! -J