Next Saturday is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness characterized by aches, pains, stiffness, possible fatigue, possible digestion problems, sleep problems, & a ton of other possible conditions.  Roughly 7 Percent (millions) of the US population currently lives with it.  

For a quick education, view the trailer of "Living with Fibromyalgia: A Journey of Hope & Understanding", a story of the Director's mother's life with the disease, along with 7 other Fibro patients.  If you feel like supporting, 10% of DVD profits go directly to the National Fibromyalgia Association, or if you're low on cash, view at one of these locations.

http://fmaware.org/may12.htm 

Finally, new designs are up!  Hope you enjoy the new batch:)  Included are vintage enamel components, vintage chains & findings, cloisonne & shell, carved resin flowers, czech crystals.... AND, a brand new Earring of the Month Page:
http://www.sweetthunder.com/earringclub/index.html
 
over N out,
Jen + RJ 

Sweet Wishes,
Jen & RJ

& a sad reminder that if you'd like to give Sweet Thunder as a Christmas gift, 12/15/06 (this Friday) is the deadline for RUSH shipping:(
**To add RUSH shipping to your order: add a $20 item to your shopping cart & in the message section include "NOT THIS ITEM, FOR RUSH SHIPPING".  OR, go to PayPal.com & send $20 to:
shop (at) SweetThunder (dot) com.

 Only a few more days of Free Shipping, after that it'll cost ya 20 big ones to get it there on time for the Holidays :)
**For all Chicagoans: We'll be doing Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, stop by & say HI!
Take care & thank you for supporting our lil' wee business throughout 2006!
Sweet Wishes, Jen & RJ

New pieces are up!  Check them out here.

That about sums it up.  We're in the workshop & doing sooo many shows through January.  Updates will be slowing down quite a bit, about 2-3 more this year, until we're caught up & ready for 2-aught-7.

Please think of us for your holiday gift-giving needs (especially this, this, & this).  Feel free, at no extra charge, to specify different charms on the Interchangeable Necklace (vintage, a certain color, only pearls, etc.).  Heirloom Reconstructions start at $35, $25 for earrings.  Please contact us with any custom orders... or just to say hi.  We love getting your mail. 

Thank you to Grace for mentioning our Tiles in her House & Garden Blog & the Design Sponge Blog!  We're huge fans of her blogs & greatly appreciate her featuring us! 

I love my metalsmithing class & am having a great time with it.  Sadly, I only have 2 more classes until I'm on my own again, w/out awesome blow torches & crazy other machinery.  The above is a vintage German pin soldered onto cut sterling silver sheet, oxidized, drilled, hammered & buffed into a pendant. 

A few weeks ago I started taking a Metalsmithing Class @ Lill Street, an incredible Art Center in Chicago.  I haven't soldered, cast metals, or used a drill press since my college Sculpture classes, so we'll see how it goes.  Slow but sure, I'll keep posting my progressions:) 

Check out our new designs: quite a few Yo-Yo's & some 'lil wee sparkly earrings :) 

We've been working on our next update...new products will be up within the next week:)  

Hurray!  We just finished our first mini-line of Home products: hand printed, tumbled, Italian Botticino Marble Tiles.  The designs are based on a collage of natural elements: gem formations, botanics, & birds.  They'll be available with or without corked backs (for coasters) within the next week on our site.  We'd love to get some feedback, so please leave comments or send emails!