Asian-inspired necklace

It started with these blue and white porcelain beads with the stylized flowers on them. Then I started thinking of Asian architecture and a way to bring them together. The result was this necklace in sterling and leather cord and coordinating porcelain beads (which I just happened to have in my stash). I had a lot of fun making it (even though the idea of it kept me up one night) and it came together more perfectly than I dared to hope.

I really hope someone buys it soon and removes my temptation to keep it! It's exclusively at my Etsy Shop.

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Jewelry Making Tools

Part of the mystique of jewelry manufacture is the tools. I admit it, I love new tools. I love good tools. Finely worked tools that have special and often obscure purpose. Sometimes I just go through catalogs looking at stuff and wonder what the hell a person does with such a gadget. I remember spending a lot of time as a little girl at my dad's workbench, messing with his tools (lord help me if I misplaced any). A while back while on a visit to my folks' house I spied dad's coping saw (frame saw/jeweler's saw) in his workshop and told him I coveted it. He laughed and said I could buy one for about $10 at Lowes. He's right of course, but that old one looked sweet. My own tool collection is modest and consists largely of the inexpensive variety. Until this craft starts to pay off, I can't justify the expense when money is put to better use buying materials (Christmas is coming and you never know what Santa will bring – Lindstrom, hint hint). But every ...

Paid Advertising

It's been something I've been contemplating for months now as it seems I get more and more lost in the sea of online jewelry sellers. I've read every online handbook, marketing blog, thread, website and tip sheet I can stand, have been doing as they preach and it hasn't made a difference. Views at both shops are low no matter how I massage my descriptions, keywords and tags or participate in the venue's SEO efforts. Direct emailing didn't work out. Optimizing the way this blog is seen by Google hasn't made a noticeable change, although that does take some time I'm told and I could be condemning it prematurely. Back when it was available to the individual, Google Base didn't work. Participating in online fashion and shopping communities hasn't made a dent. Tapping into online communities in which I am a member, but not as an artist hasn't worked either. Ditto my consignment efforts that I was so excited about. Plus there's the whole t...

Good things come

to those who wait. My torch arrived and I've been messing with it. Have to lock up the cats while I use it since they really like to jump up on my workbench. Just what I need; to set a cat on fire. Pests. Nothing I fused so far is worth using in a piece except some headpins which I'll be using in this - as soon as the jumprings are hard enough to work with (tumbling as I type), I'll assemble and put it up in the shop. Which shop I don't know. Probably 1000 Markets. Etsy won't be neglected however, this piece will end up there. It's a pendant that will be suspended from leather cord just as soon as I get that part done. It came out exactly perfect from what kept spinning around and around in my head as I tried in vain to sleep last night. Still more ideas lurk and yearn for the light of day. I'll be playing with the torch especially since a lot of what I want to do depends on developing my skill with that tool. Speaking of tools, don't you hate wait...

Adventures in Handmade Jewelry

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