Look what followed me home

Shopped at my "local" bead shop today. It's 45 minutes away, but what can you expect when you live in the middle of nowhere?

There was a trunkshow recently and while I couldn't attend on the day, I got some lovely gemstones and some lampwork glass beads. Take a peek!

Starting with the yellow strand by my pliers -

10 mm matte finish citrine wheels

12-15 mm polished barrels in what I think is a jadeite or similar. I forgot to ask and they weren't labeled.

10-12 mm polished aquamarine pebbles (I love these!!)

9-10 mm freshwater pearls in pink (Spring here we come!)

6 mm matte magnesite (they have a very slight veining, but are basically white)

1 x 1.5 cm matte lampwork beads

1 x 1.5-2 cm shiny lampwork beads (so gorgeous, made by a Wisconsin artist, too)

5.5-6 mm round faceted strawberry quartz

No two are the same shape!!

With some of the wire, findings and other stuff I just ordered (some in rose gold!) I should be able to make some truly delicious pieces.

Stay tuned to this station!

Comments

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...

Less than a week

Lately I've been devoting my time to producing work for sale in a spa that's opening soon. It's tough to know what will sell ahead of time in this market, so I'm making a variety of things (many photos posted to my portfolio here). This means my online shops have been quiet and nothing new has hit them for a while. If business takes off, I'll know better where to spend my time, but for now it's tough filling all the mouths. Here's some shots of some new things for the spa - I just love my little hang tags and stuff. I'm using 26ga brass wire to hold them onto the bracelets and stuff. Kind of funny and I don't know that I'll continue, but I was at a loss the other day and duh - I'm the Wire Smith for heaven's sake. Anyway...I'm off to my mom's. She's helping me make a bracelet display for the spa.

Adventures in Handmade Jewelry

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