Jewelry discussions

After few days away from the studio, I was starting to feel a bit on edge. I finally got back into it last night. In the past few days, a few things have happened.  First, we are redecorating the office!  I figured, I need a pretty wall color to go with my new pretty computer. The room was a dismal dark olive green, on a side of the house that gets no sunlight. Not a very good combination. Down right depressing, really. So I picked a pretty bright pale greenish blue color, quite similar to my studio color. The walls are painted and the few main ingredients to the room are moved back, like the desk, puter, hutch and I've added a long sofa table. Next up, I have to find 2 nice lamps for some decent additional lighting, a smelly candle, an extension cord for the stereo, and possibly a chair or another piece of furniture to fill some empty space, and hopefully an area rug. I'd love to also get some new prints for the walls- if you have any suggestions of great 2D artists on Etsy, let me know. I hope to have the room closer to done this weekend, and I'll try to get some pictures of the new space.
The other big of happening news, can't really be discussed quite yet. But suffice it to say, I am tickled pink, and am chomping at the bit to let you in on my secret. BUT at this point, mum's the word. Sorry!! And no, I'm not pregnant.  Why is that the first thing people think of when I say I have a secret? Ok, I know why. But, that's not it.

So Let me show you what I created last night, and I'mma add in some randoms with each. I feel like I don't talk enough on the blog, and I want people to stay interested, so...

Here is a pair of earrings that I put together last night. I took advantage of a recent Art Bead sale at FusionBeads.com, and picked up a few pairs of Lilly Pilly's etched shell pendants. I was instantly drawn to this pretty orange color. I tried several different colored beads with these and finally settled on some amethyst. Some of you might be wondered why I went with purple out of all the colors I tried.  I love the regal color of purple, and I think purple can be paired with any other color and look pretty fabulous.  I also was digging the texture of the beads- pretty faceted sparkly paired with the shell. I also tend to reach for purple when I use too much green and teal. I sometimes swear I could open separate shops, one of all teal jewelry, one of all bird jewelry. I just keep gravitating towards the same things, and that can be dangerous- I hate the idea of my customers getting bored of the same ol' thing.
So there ya have it. That's why I picked purple beads for these. Interesting stuff, I know.




See what I mean? It's pretty, and it's teal- my favorite. I used a few of Nancy's new shards, and I like how this one turned out. The shards are just the right size, so you can use them in any style piece. I used linen cording in this one, and the
Love is a Bat Field necklace below, I just added a jump ring and strung it onto a beaded necklace. She's got some cool new shards for sale at her shop. I love the pinks and yellows!











I don't really have any insightful things to say about my bat necklace. How can you not love that bat. Look at him in all his wing-spread, batty glory. I might even venture to say that he's kind of cute!
I like the blue glazed paired with the orangey tones of the wood rounds.













Ahhh yes, and finally, another necklace featuring a Jade Scott pendant. I collected a few of these smile shaped pendants during Jade's last shop update. After attending this week's update, I now feel like I can let one of them go. Because I bought this one.
Is it just me? Am I the only one that has this completely weirdo, obsessive compulsive bead shopping habit where I can't use something until I know for sure that I can acquire another one?









Just one more thing I want to mention. Thanks for sticking with me in this super wordy post, by the way. 
I am gearing up for my annual show that I participate in at the local Jewish Temple this November. Which means, I need to get my ass in gear making a lot of jewelry, some I'll post and some I won't.  I am thinking about new ways to set up my tables. I really did like my display last year, and want to do something similar to that again this year, but with more earthy elements.


 Check out these cute WOODEN tags I found at Ornamentea! I think these will look great holding my earrings, I think I'll embellish them with some organic type material like raffia or something. I'm not sure if I should give them to the buyer, or just take the earrings off and use them only as display. What would you do?

Comments

  1. Love all of the jewelry, as always. The title for the bat one made me chuckle! Those wood tags are cool too!

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  2. neato wooden tags. I've seen them a few times poking around ornamentea, but never thought of a use for them. Buyers love little special extras like this, so I would give them to the buyer, but be sure to mark up the earrings to compensate for the price of the tags!

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  3. I love that you won't use an element unless you know you can get more! Some piece can be rare and priceless, but if I have 20, I'll chuck it on anything. But if it's a 10 cent bead from Walgreens that I can't find anywhere, I'll hoard it like gold!
    beautiful stuff as always.

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  4. Love the teal and purple necklace. It's such a cool color combination. The wooden tags are cute! I'd use them for display. I'm thinking if the customer left the jewelry on the tags it might tarnish faster? Just a thought. Beautiful work as usual!

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  5. I think I would take the earrings off of the wooden tags. The earrings will look nice displayed on them but I don't think the customer would have a use for the tag after they purchased your earrings and the tag would most likely end up in the trash. So, you would be saving yourself some money by keeping them. I'm sure there's a few people that would save the tag but I think most would toss it.

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  6. Thank you for your thoughts on the tags! I think you're right Kelly- I would hate the idea of them being thrown out. I think I'll just remove the earrings from the tags when wrapping the purchases, and keep them. :)

    Glad to hear everyone likes the new pieces, even with my dark dreary rainy day pictures i took this morning!

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  7. Good thought about the tags. But if the customer asked for the tag (as I would), would you give it to them?

    Love your jewelry - always great stuff! And I love the super wordy posts, too.

    Ann
    http://mycriticaleye.com

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  8. For some interesting 2D work, look at Slightclutter's shop on Etsy. One of her photos was featured in a treasury this week, and that's how I found her.

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  9. I love that you added more "conversation" to this post. It's great to have some insight into you.

    I can't wait to hear the big news. . .

    Also, as far as the tags. If I were buying a pair of earrings at a show and saw them displayed on the tags, I would assume that the tags came with them. If I assumed that and got home to find them bagged up without the tags, I would feel as though I had been slighted in some way and the seller had cheated me out on something. I think it's best to either include them or to make it obvious that the tags are for display only. Otherwise, you may have some upset buyers . . .at least that's how I feel about it. My two cents and all . . .

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  10. I adore those tags. I would base my decision on how expensive they were...and how much the customer bought. And if they bought a lot, I would say, "I usually keep these for display, but I am going to give you these."

    The bat is almost cute. I looked at her things yesterday and could not believe how taken to it I was!!!

    Suz
    Katsui

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  11. Love the wordy post and the descriptions of your pieces. And I totally understand your issue of hanging on to your beads until you know you can get another one. I do the same thing!

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  12. I'd keep the tags. They make a great statement.

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  13. I love orange and purple and Nancy's shards.

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  14. I like your talkative side. All the jewellery look great. LillyPilly - you always do such nice things with her stuff. I don't ever manage to see how I could use her pieces.

    This is a nice print I would like to have myself. Costs 10 dollars: http://www.etsy.com/listing/52099921/birds-online-watercolor-illustration

    Tags: they look great! You could ask the buyer if they want to keep it or not. I don't think they can just be taken off without mentioning. Dissappointing effect. And if you say they are just for display you might come across as cheap and tight. If the customer are going to just throw them away when they get home that is also upsetting and a big waste. You are friendly if you ask what the customer wish. Spread the estimated cost for all taken tags on all of your jewellery. And then buy new ones if you need to.

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  15. I've never posted before, but I've been a daily reader for a month or so now. Your stuff is so inspiring! I absolutely love the purple & shell earrings. As for 2d art -- this guy Christopher Umana does fantastic whimsical humanized animal art (lots of birds in corsets or suits and top hats, etc.) It reminds me of your jewelry in a way, so I thought I'd send you a link to his prints: http://www.thumbtackpress.com/browse/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=umana&x=0&y=0

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  16. I think people like a wordy post - I enjoy reading about someone else's creative process. Although I can't get past the "I need a smelly candle" comment ! LOL - I picture them at Target between the socks and non-smelly candles. LOL !!! I agree that the tags might not be used after purchase and it seems like a waste - What about if you made a little modern wire tree for them to use as display ?? Fasten the tags onto the branches like leaves with the raffia - then they appear more as part of the display then a giveaway.I don't think someone would expect a display part to come home with them....although you never know !

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  17. Oh I am imagining them stamped with leaves or cut a bit into a leaf shape......

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  18. lovey designs! I'm crushing on the bat pendant.

    Base it on cost everytime.

    Maybe just include the tags at special times of the year like Christmas, Valentines Day, birthdays, etc. That way you may have a better vision on how to embellish them.

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  19. Nope, it's not just you. That's why I end up buying multiples of things. Becuz if I only have ONE...I have to keep it for myself greedy little monster that I am LOL!

    And darn it...you TOTALLY had me thinking you were pg for about a sentence and a half there...I about strangled myself to stop from shouting like a freak LOL!

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