Happy Holidays

At the bench...Holiday Chaos...

The Christmas rush has come to a close and my studio & office looks like a tornado touched down. I'm ready for a few days off...

Gallery of the Month : llyn strong fine jewelry

I have been planning my Gallery of the Month posts for a while. Well...it's finally here! First up is llyn strong fine jewelry in Greenville, SC. Q: Describe your gallery

A: classically contemporary with over 60 international jewelry designers and glass artists.

Q: Why did you decide to open a gallery? How long have you been open?
A: It was somewhat accidental – I liked downtown Greenville. I’ve been open since Oct. 1989.

Q: What is your price range of the products you sell?
A: from $20.00 to $50,000.00; Best selling price range would be $250.00 to $600.00

Q: Do you have special events? ie: First Friday? Exhibitions/openings? Trunk shows?
A: I have one large annual event a year and First Fridays (in the gallery) ; and I participate in other exhibitions (with my own work)

Q: Do you offer special services to your customers?
A: Yes! We offer wedding/baby/gift registries, shipping, gift wrapping, etc.

Q: Do you sell online?
A: no direct sales online, but yes; customers can contact us through the website and inquire about pricing if interested

Q: Who is your customer base?
A: locals, repeat customers, business travelers, getting more tourists all the time now too!

Q: How do you promote your artists / store?
A: print ads in the Journal (local newspaper), TV, direct mail, website

Q: Where do you find your artists/product?
A: trade shows such as Rosen, ACE, and Global Design; magazines

Q: What is your favorite/least favorite part of your business?
A: my least is managing employees. my favorite is designing jewelry and developing a rapport with customers

llyn strong not only owns her own gallery, she is also an award winning designer who has been creating jewelry for 30 years. She has recently won First Place in the Miscellaneous Jewelry category of the 2008 Jewelry Arts Awards and First Place in Ladies Jewelry of the 2008 Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition. llyn has been carrying my work since 2001....and I am deeply honored to be amonst so many amazing designers in her store.

singing in my head...

I woke up with this song in my head and I thought I would share...

I want this!!!

I have had my eye on this stunning 5 ct rough diamond for months now. I am seriously considering designing a line around it. What do you think? In this economy...am I crazy?

Blog Nods for my Bubble Collection

I recently discovered my jewelry in some blog gift guides...

My Effervescence Earrings were in GilBea's Jewelry Lover's Gift Guide. GilBea has a fantastic blog about fashion & the handmade and how to combine the two...AND she makes gorgeous handpainted silk accessories! Check out her shop here.

The always fabulous Julie Morrison (aka MAJESTYinc.) has added my Effervescence Ring to her blog wish list. MAJESTYinc makes handmade vinyl accessories that are creative, colorful and whimsical. Check out her shop here.

Holiday Sale!

FREE SHIPPING to US and Canada in my Etsy shop from Black Friday to Cyber Monday (Nov 27 - Dec 1)! PLUS selected items are up to 20% off!

Click on any of the above images for more information. Or click HERE to see all the items in my shop.DON'T MISS THIS GREAT HOLIDAY SHOPPING OPPORTUNITY!!!

Giving Thanks...

Printable Thanksgiving Place Cards by littlebrownpen

I am thankful for:

-Life
-my Husband who is my best friend & simply incredible in so many ways
-my beautiful little Boys
-that I have the ability to Do what I love everyday
-that I live in this day & Age (I would never make it as a pioneer)
...and so much more...

Happy Thanksgiving!

tweet...twit...Twitter

Yes, I finally broke down and set up a twitter account. A year and a half ago I was saying "Blogging? Why would I do that? Who wants to hear my ramblings? Blogs are for the self-obsessed!" Well what do you know...here I am blogging AND twittering! What have I become???? A slave to my Mac! You can follow my tweets here.

Blog TAG!

*sigh* It was just a matter of time...
*sigh* I've seen it happen to others...
*sigh* Now it has happened to me too...

I have been tagged by Chris Parry!

Here's how this works: THE RULES:*

*Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
*Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.
* Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are my seven facts.....
1. I bite my nails.
2. I like to eat raw potatoes sprinkled with salt.
3. I'm a little bit of a sci-fi geek.
4. I've been in business for 13 years and still sometimes feel like a newbie.
5. I have fired an employee and I felt both regret and joy at the same time.
6. My brother is a ROCK STAR but I have absolutely no musical or vocal capabilities.
7. When necessary, I don't mind peeing outside but I will not sleep outside!

Did you learn something about me?!?
My turn to tag! Here are my victims...er, um...I mean picks:

Timothy Adam
Ashley Akers
Beth Cyr
Cindy Edelstein (aka Jewelry Business Guru)
Julie Morrison (aka MAJESTY inc)
Tiffaney Springer (aka Evermore Soap Factory)
Amy Tavern

It's your choice, play or don't...but please, don't be shy!

Although this is pure silliness, it really is a good way to market your blog...

Web Press - Jewelry of the Day

My Bubble Pendant #5 was selected for the Jewelry of the Day on Tuesday, November 18. Jewelry of the Day is a blog which features a daily selection of handmade jewelry. Thanks, Eric!This pendant is available in my Etsy shop, as well as many of my other designs...ANY purchase that mentions this blog post (in "message to seller" during checkout) will receive free shipping (refunded via pay pal)! Click here to shop!

Jeweler's Resource Bureau & Etsy...

I am excited to announce that I was interviewed by Frank Stankus of the Jeweler's Resource Bureau for their "What Works" series. The article entitled "What Works: Selling Your Goods on the Etsy Craft Site" is a candid, tactful and informative introduction to Etsy for members of the Jeweler's Resource Bureau.
To view the entire article, you must be a member...and I highly recommend becoming a member to all jewelry designers! The Jeweler's Resource Bureau has an amazing amount of resources available, such as: suppliers, shows, competitions, publicity opportunities, marketing tips, consultations, and the list goes on... Check it out and sign up here!

Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show

I'm off to Atlanta, where I will be exhibiting at the second annual Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show. It is a very intimate show with only 25 of the country's finest contemporary jewelry artists presenting exciting handcrafted work at the Defoor Centre in Midtown Atlanta. It's exciting to be amongst such talent. I hope to see you there!

Election Day

Everyday is Halloween

Just for fun....
This was one of my fave songs long ago...
Although this video is a fake...the music and the video do not match...It takes me back to my new wave/goth girl high school daze...


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Being heard feels good

illustration "hello Listen" by laurageorge (aka: Laura Berger)

I wanted to give a quick shout out/thank you to my friend and fellow jewelry artist, Kristin Lora. She recently contacted me, asking about the display banners I use in my show booth. The conversation shifted to my blog post about the Metalsmith - Exhibition in Print "Equilibrium: Body as Site." Kristin is on the SNAG board of Directors and she brought my blog post to the attention of Suzanne Ramljak, the editor of Metalsmith. I don't know if this will help the concerns I raised in my earlier blog post, but it nice to know that I my humble opinion has been heard. Thanks, Kristin! And also a 'thank you' to Laura for giving me permission to use her lovely illustration!

A few new items...

Here are a few new items I just completed...Small Midnight Vine Pendant w/ white diamond

Midnight Vine Ring w/ grey diamond

Friday at the bench...

This week I've been finishing up wholesale orders and dabbling with some new designs...

I have been pretty successful with my vine rings on Etsy, so I was inspired to expand the line. Here are some pendants I'm working on. They are very different from most of my work and I'm not sure how they will fit into my display as a whole. Of course, I added some movement: the little leaves freely swing! Your thoughts are welcomed!

I am also working on more Slider Rings. I'm really excited about this series! I bought stones this week specifically for these designs. This is one I finished several months ago

And this is one I'm currently making
Now I'm off to work....Have a good weekend!

Fun at the Gem Show

Yesterday I traveled to Asheville, NC to meet some of my Etsymetal friends at the Gem Show. I really enjoyed spending the day with these talented young women in person...Beth, Maggie and Sara! While at the show I purchased many lovely goodies: some champagne and grey colored diamonds; an amazing oval imperal topaz; a pair of lovely princess cut aquamarines; a positively scrumptious parcel of multi-color princess cut sapphires and more! My head is swimming with ideas for all these lovely gems...now I just have to find the time to make them...

Niche Awards Finalist!

I was recently informed that my "Kinetic Mod Necklace" has been chosen as one of the 2009 Niche Awards Finalists! The winners of the awards will be announced on February 15, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA at a banquet and ceremony during the Buyers Market of American Craft.

Wish me Luck...because....

This is my 8th time as a Niche Award Finalist...but I have yet to win the award. I am beginning to feel like the Susan Lucci of the Niche Awards. I think it took her 19 Emmy nominations before she won...geez!

Friday at the bench...Engagement Ring!

This week I finished up an exciting project: a commissioned engagement ring with nesting wedding band. My customer saw my Gold Vine Ring w/ diamond online and asked me if I could make a similar ring in a white metal. After much discussion, he decided on 950 Palladium, a naturally strong and durable noble metal that offers a more radiant white than white gold, and has many of the desired characteristics of platinum without platinum’s price. I think the rings turned out beautifully! Congrats to Rob & Traci!

These vine rings are proving to be popular...I have two more commissions in the works!

Aside from this vine ring and a few other orders, this week I started making some stacking rings from the wire Ben & I drew down 2 weeks ago. They are a combination of 14k white, yellow and pink golds...still incomplete...but will be finished and listed on Etsy soon!

Photo Stamps!

If you haven't heard of PhotoStamps yet, they are (as stated on their website) "an exciting new product that lets you take your own images or photographs and turn them into real U.S. postage." I recently ordered some with the image of my Bubble Charm Necklace. What a great branding tool!

Some more Web Press...

I'm happy to announce that my Abacus Wave Cufflinks were featured in blufuse: a new, hip blog featuring modern men products. Very Cool stuff in the blog!

My Midnight Marquise Bracelet was also mentioned on dianalerias.net in the post Jewelry: Favorite Picks. Thank you!

New Ring...

This ring represents hope...
Just as in the myth of Pandora's box...hope always remains...even if just barely...

This sterling silver ring graceful curves around the finger and it terminated with 2 gorgeous wine-colored rhodolite garnets set in 18k gold bezels that just barely touch. I made this ring as part of etsymetal team's monthly theme... October's theme involved using the technique of bezel setting and the concept of hope. It is currently for sale on etsy.com ...check it out!

Marquise Pendant gets Web Press x 2

Jewelry of the Day is a wonderful blog for jewelry addicts! It features a daily selection of hand made jewelry with links to where you can purchase the items. And I'm happy to say that my Asymmetrical Marquise Pendant is the item of TODAY! Thanks for choosing my pendant!
-------------------------
The same pendant was featured yesterday on Etsy's The Storque article entitled Sterling Silver Jewelry!

Friday at the bench...

This week was busy with finishing and shipping lots of orders (wholesale and Etsy). I'm happy to say that next week I will be able to breathe a little easier and concentrate my my terribly neglected office work!

Today, Ben and I poured ingots and pulled wire for a custom ring I need to make. I will have plenty of wire left over, so be on the lookout for some new stacking rings in 14k white, yellow and pink gold... (well, when I'm done with my office work, anyway)

I love Avery!

I have been wanting to use labels instead of writing on my bags with a Sharpie for years...
FINALLY! I did it! I love them! I just shipped 6 wholesale orders and they looked beautiful and professional! Thank you Avery DesignPro!

Back to School...

Back to School!
This sterling silver ring is such FUN!
The pencil actually spins like a propeller when you flick it!
I made this ring as part of etsymetal team's monthly theme... September's theme involved using the technique of riveting and the concept of green/recycle/upcycle.
I am happy and surprised to say that the ring sold quickly. Tell me what you think...should I make more????

Friday at the bench...

I think I'm going to TRY to start a new weekly posting about what I'm working on and the state of my studio. It may help get me motivated to clean up my workspace! Here goes...
I'm trying to finish up several wholesale orders that are a little behind schedule. (whoops!) I have to set the stones and add all the pearls today/this weekend so I can ship on Monday...
Each order gets a pie-shaped container & a sticky note. eeekkk! Do you think I need a better system? My chaos works for me...sort of...

Satellite Collection & A Blog nod...

Last week my original Satellite Ring was featured on panie przodem, a contemporary jewelry blog based out of Poland! It it a great honor to be included with such inspiring avant-garde jewelers. Thanks, Dominika!
With that said, I have also recently decided to resurrect my Satellite designs. In the past this collection has mainly been flatware (cocktail spoon, fork and martini sticks). Now, I am working on adding many new jewelry pieces. The first two are now available in my etsy shop.

Satellite Ring #2

Satellite Earrings #1

More Satellite designs coming soon...keep posted!

New Wedding Rings...

I made this ring a few months ago and really liked how it turned out. The body of the band has a high polish and the concave detail has a light texture. I called it my Reverse Radius Ring. I love the simplicity and geometry.

I thought it would make a great wedding band so here the results so far...

I am currently test marketing them in my etsy shop and will officially introduce them into the Spring 2009 Collection at the Buyers Market in February.