Copper Wire Jewelers Magazine - Issue 1

Santa Visits the Harry T. Clunn Memorial VFW In Bensalem

Each year for the last 4 my Santa has volunteered at the Harry T. Clunn Memorial VFW Christmas Party for the children and grandchildren of our local Vets. Santa feels very strongly about giving back something to these men and women who sacrificed so much to keep us safe that he is honored each year to be asked to come back to visit with the kids.

The pictures tell the story.

From Santa and Me a big thank you to all our Vets and future Vets serving now.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with peace and prosperity for our great country.

Hint, Hint, Hint - Find the Hidden Santas

Want to play the game but just can't find 3 pictures of our Santa?
Here's one of them - a hint to get you started:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19425806

Visit our participating shops to spot just 2 more sightings and you're ready to enter!!

Find 3 Santa sightings and you're well on your way to grabbing the prize basket!

Email the 3 [three] URLs along with your name and address to:
esmartspromos [at] yahoo.ca

Visit http://www.esmarts.blogspot.com for more details and the list of participating shops.

Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt November 14-28, 2009

Contest Update: eSMArts team is sharing the love with a handmade bundle to warm your holidays!

Enter our Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt to WIN a Christmas Gift Bundle of unique handmade creations.

The complete prize package, item photos and detailed descriptions will be announced on the Esmarts Blog  shortly.

Our contest begins November 14th so check the Esmarts Blog for the full list of Sponsor Shops. 

Sponsor Shop banners will be displayed at the top of the Esmarts blog (both left and right sidebar). 

Simply click the banners to visit each of our Sponsor Shops.

How to Play:

• Check the Esmarts blog for contest details and a list of participating eSMArts Sponsor Shops.
• Visit each participating shop to find images of our santa.
• Make note of the url where you find our santa pictured!
• HINT: santa images are not embedded yet. They won't be online until the contest start date of November 14, 2009.

Here's how to complete each entry:

1. find 3 Santa images that you haven't previously submitted.
2. Email the urls along with your name & address to esmartspromos [at] yahoo.ca to be entered.
   
3. Find new/unsubmitted Santa image urls and enter as many times as you like!
4. Entries will be validated to ensure that contestants are submitting fresh Santa spottings.
5. Remember that 3 new Santa image urls equals ONE additional contest entry.

• Contest runs November 14-28, 2009 (close is November 28/09 at midnight eastern).
• Drawing takes place November 29th
• Winner will be announced here November 30th
• Prize package ships December 1st, 2009.

check back for hunting hints and tips!
and Happy Hunting :)

Team eSMArts Wants to Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Team eSMArts Wants to Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We are making plans, and we're checking them twice. We want to make sure your Christmas is nice!

eSMArts members across the globe are coming together to make your Holiday Season special this year. We have a bag full of gifts all handmade and donated by eSMArts artists from Etsy and Artfire and it can be yours to use as Christmas gifts or to keep for your own - you decide.

The game starts November 14th so check back often for updates and maybe even a clue or two!

Stay tuned to Hidden Santa at the Hidden Santa Blog for more details

Basic Copper Smithing and Flame Painting

Can't wait to play with this, although in the clip he mentions 6000 degrees as the temperature of the flame, I found this great video that is a copper wire groupies dream. "Basic Copper Smithing and Flame Painting" is available through a number of different venues. I located it first on Total Vid and the reviews give it high marks for brazing but low marks for flame painting, something I really wanted to get ideas about. There is a short clip on the site to give you an idea of quality too.






This next site won't teach you how to smith but it is sure pretty to look at. Coppersmithing by Sian


And finally for today," Art of Coppersmithing:A Practical Treatise on Working Sheet Copper into All Forms" in paper back by John Fuller on Amazon.com.

Basic Copper Smithing can also be found on Amazon for purchase.


Now, my next goal is to find lessons on Flame Painting. I can just imagine wide copper cuffs that look like that first picture.



Visit A Beaded Affair for copper wire and beads, Bead Store Quality at Gem Show Pricing. Discounts start at $50.00.

Snooze Through Financial News

Turning on the financial news is akin to hitting the "snooze" button on my clock radio. I don't understand it, don't want to understand it and probably never will. A really short sighted and foolish reaction on my part, I know. I should care. I almost want to care but it's so complicated. Dow this and NASDAC that. What does it all mean?

I read and explain legal documents for a living for heavens sake. You would think I could get my head around the financial world. Not so. If it isn't mortgages and real estate I don't get it. Only one thing is sure though, I probably never will.

Today I ran across an article in The New York Times, Stocks and Gold Gain as Investors Shun the Dollar during a search for information on the copper market. Bad news "the dollar is weak", buy gold, silver and copper.

As I read through the article, all the while fighting the urge to hit the "snooze" button it struck me that investing in gold, silver and other metals right now with my "weakened" dollars is betting against the U.S. Basically, buying metals says I don't believe that the U.S. is going to come out of the recession and the dollar won't strengthen over time. Seems to me, this is a lose, lose situation. If the dollar strengthens the price of gold will come down and I lose gold value and if the dollar continues to weaken my gold might be worth more but it's worth more in a devalued dollar so how is that a benefit?

Not that I'm going to stop buying gold, silver and copper for creating jewelry but it seems to me, if I'm going to invest I want it to benefit my Country. Something tangible that I can see and touch. Think I'll stick with real estate. Something I understand, has an impact on where I live, supports the infrastructure of our American culture, keeps the tax rolls rolling and provides business or residential opportunities for Americans.

The banks need to loosen up the purse strings, work out all their kinks and start lending our money to us again to strengthen and stabilize the housing market in this country. Not that I'm in favor of foolish lending, quite the contrary. I was appalled by many of the loans I saw closed over the last 10 years and years ago predicted many of the problems we've had including the crash. If I could see it, how could the powers that be, be so blind. Greed probably, but that's another story for another day. Lending money creates jobs. Seems simple to me.

If you've read this far and not hit the "snooze" button, thank you. I now return you to our regularly scheduled program.

Shop A Beaded Affair for Copper Wire, Beads and Findings. Bead Store Quality at Gem Show Prices.