Christmas rush

Cold and crisp December afternoon at sunset 

BOiS Christmas rush is almost over!

I know most of the sellers are still hectically busy to wrap up the biggest and happiest season of the year. As for me, Canada Post is way more expensive (and without tracking codes! urg...) compared to U.S.P.S. and takes longer to deliver since two thirds of BOiS customers order from abroad, which leads to the early finish of Christmas rush for BOiS. Otherwise, Christmas gifts won't arrive in time for Christmas.

It is certainly not beneficial for business but now I get to use some time to do other somewhat procrastinated projects: translating one of Earl's speeches, Potter's Clay art project for the upcoming conference, preparing the presentation, cleaning up Danielle's room, finishing up of the studio moving, organizing the new room, household & business bookkeeping for the past two months... And the list can go on.

Plus, there will be a major make over done for BOiS Etsy store approaching a slightly new direction. A little heads-up? Shop-wise: new photography. Jewellery-wise: more art and more Holy Spirit inspired with personal touch and taste. This will be the long time project of 2013.

Yes, yes, I need to get things in gear.

Oh, the announcement for the last minute Christmas orders:
If you're willing to pay for the cost, fast shipping is available to meet the deadline and you're more than welcome to drop by my studio and pick up your orders in person if you live in or near Toronto.

Happy December!

BOiS & BOiScreation

.

Announcement: Christmas 2012

Nov. 30 is the last day for your Christmas orders to be shipped by regular shipping. Please plan ahead! I just hate to tell any of my customers that their gifts wouldn't arrive before the big day or that they'd have to pay so much extra for fast shipping.

BOiS & BOiScreation

.

New project

Yay!! I'm working on a new project and the cards I ordered just arrived today!

God answers prayers so faithfully; I'm just amazed. My story is this. I am planning to donate minimum 30 pieces of BOiS jewellery to YWAM Toronto and we will be selling them at Campus Conference 2011 for three days to raise funds for YWAM. So, in my clever wisdom, given by Him of course, I was able to order 250 cards desigmated for the event. I was happy to order the stack because not only I could hang each piece on a card in display but it would also be a good memento for the students attending the conference.  Only thing is that I didn't calculate the shipping time and the package was supposed to arrive here by the 27th which is the starting date of the conference. I needed at least three days prior to the date for preping the pieces. Timing was just too risky. The 250 cards and my good work effort were on the verge of falling to nothing because of a split second of my heedlessness. Only if I read over the descriptions before hitting the order button one more, after the 10th time.

Last Sunday, I asked a couple of my friends to pray that the package would arrive in time. And, VOILA! Here it is today! I had initially paid for 21 day slow shipping. But for some reason, God of course, I received an email from the card company yesterday that the shipping method was upgraded, and today I actually received it by UPS Expediated. This fast! I'd thought about three days prior would be good enough. How amazing is that? The kind of work God does. : )

So, here you see the card I will be using during the conference from December 27 to December 30, 2011. The theme of the conference is "Fire Of Love" so I chose this passionate design. Pretty, huh? : ) I'm very satisfied with the weight of the paper and its glossy finish. (On the other hand, BOiS cards I ordered in matt finish are quite disappointing and I'm sad. Stuck with hundreds of them. Sigh.) I guess this would be the last event happening at BOiS for the year. Merry Christmas, everyone!

BOiS & BOiScreation

.

Educational Note

Many of BOiS pieces are created with genuine 925 sterling silver. Sterling Silver rings have been known to cause peoples fingers to turn green. It is a reaction with the copper content in Sterling Silver and caused by an individuals body chemistry. It is more often seen in people with very sweaty hands. Sterling Silver contains 92.5% Silver and 7.5% Copper. One of BOiS hallmark 925 stands for Sterling Silver. The "green finger effect" does not necessarily mean that the material is not pure Sterling Silver.

If a person has a natural high acidity level in his or her skin, it is possible for his or her finger to "turn green" from Sterling Silver jewellery, especially when the weather is hot and humid. It does not necessarily mean that the jewellery is plated or not pure. The green is actually caused by oxidation, and all silver will oxidize. It is the same reason Sterling Silver jewellery has a tarnished look. There are some cheap jewellery items that cause the same effect because many of them contain Nickel. As for Nickel, it is not poisonous in small quantities but it can provoke a reaction in people allergic to Nickel.

The "green finger effect" may also be an allergic reaction to alloy elements in Sterling Silver or Gold. In some cases, the alloys, used to make jewellery more durable, may react with your body chemistry, causing a harmless green or black discoloration on the skin. It can be easily removed with soap and water. For this reason, many Sterling Silver jewellery and White Gold jewellery is plated with Rhodium. Rhodium provides a defensive layer and prevents the reaction on allergic skins. 

Other than allergic reasons; lotions, soap or chemicals that come into contact with your skin on an everyday basis may casuse the same reaction.

If you have this allergic reaction, I would recommend to buy rings which have been rhodium plated. Rhodium plating is durable and gives a bright silverish, platinum sheen look. I know that most of Swarovski jewellery items are Rhodium plated with base metal under. Another solution is to clean your Sterling Silver jewellery as often as possible with polishing cloth. After about a week or two, the reaction should stop occurring.

Another alternative to Sterling Silver jewellery is stainless steel jewelry. It is clean, modern, non-hypoallergenic, untarnishable, extremely strong, and comfortable.

As for BOiS, most of the pieces are created in genuine 925 Sterling Silver. They are hardly Rhodium plated, unless requested upon, because it gives me flexibility to play with different surface finishes. And, as some of you may know, Satin finish is my favourite finish which cannot be accomplished when plated.

Thank you for reading!

by BOiS






.