All Things Jewelry and Then Some

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:03:00 +0000

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Crème Brûlée

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:04:00 +0000

The final color up is Crème Brûlée:

This color is described as a grayed-down beige in the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009.

I have nothing with this color in it, but if you have any fashion item, home fashion items included, with this color in it please post the link to the listing for it in the comments section.

Happy Holidays to All My Friends

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Here's wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season.

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Majolica Blue

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:09:00 +0000

Next up is Majolica Blue:

"Look for it (refers to Warm Olive) paired with Majolica Blue, a deep, mysterious teal blue with more vibrancy than the usual navy. Majolica Blue brings an exotic flair to the group, especially when paired with Burnt Sienna or Purple Heart. From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009.

I have this necklace which contains beads in a lighter shade of this color to show off:

If you have any fashion item, home fashion items included, with this color in it please post the link to the listing for it in the comments section.

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Warm Olive

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:51:00 +0000

The next color up in this series is Warm Olive:

"Like the olive in a martini, Warm Olive, a rich yellow-green, adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to fall. When combined, this tangy, intriguing hue makes all other colors come alive." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

I have this bracelet and earrings set that has this color in it listed in my shop, where my 50% off sale is still in progress:

Plus-Size Green and Blue Bracelet with Matching Earrings

If you have any fashion item, home fashion items included, with this color in it please post the link to the listing for it in the comments section.

Snowstorm

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:55:00 +0000

We're in the midst of the first snowstorm of the winter up 'round my way. By the time all is said and done tomorrow we'll have gotten around 30 cm (12").

Edit added a few hours after the original post: The storm is pretty much over already, and we didn't get as much snow as they were originally announcing.

In the pic below is my buddy Baby Bo, whom you may recall is also known as Libearace. Next to him is his wife, Snowflake. The two of them fell head over heels in love with each other a while back, and after dating for a month or two decided to get hitched. Baby Bo, being a polar bear, and Snowflake, having her winter layer on, insisted on going out to play in the snow while I did some shoveling.

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Burnt Sienna

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:57:00 +0000

The next color up is Burnt Sienna:

"Fall would not be complete without a seasonal favorite like Burnt Sienna, a deepened, earthy shade of orange, reminiscent of an autumn sunset. Pair this versatile hue with Nomad and Rapture Rose for a different twist." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

I have nothing with this color in it, but you're welcome to post the link to the listing for any item you have containing this color in the comments section.

Happy Thanksgiving to My American Friends

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:32:00 +0000

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Iron

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:27:00 +0000

Iron is the next color up in this series:

"Strong yet understated Iron serves as the “new black,” making traditional basics much more interesting. Neither gray nor brown, Iron is a grounding color that coordinates well with all colors in the palette." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009.

I have this piece, currently not listed in my shop, which has a color very similar to Iron in it:

If you do too, please post the link to the listing for the item in the comments section.

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Rapture Rose

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:15:00 +0000

The fifth color up in this series is Rapture Rose:

"Adding spark to the fall palette, Rapture Rose artfully captures the vibrancy of fuchsia and the softness of pink. Underscored by nurturing and feminine tones, the addition of Rapture Rose enlivens the more traditionally subdued fall hues. Look for it in cosmetics as well as clothing and accessories." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009.

I currently have no pieces that incorporate this color, but if you do post the link to the listing for the item in the comments section.

A Sneak Preview

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:25:00 +0000

A while ago I posted about wanting to change direction in the kind of jewelry I make. Check out my personal blog for an idea of one of the things I want to do now:

Some Jewelry For Me

So Who's Really Got the Goods on What it Takes to Sell Your Goods?

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:10:00 +0000

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately (Yes, I know that's never a wise idea. LOL) about my venture into selling online. When I first started I knew nothing about what it takes to succeed at selling on online craft malls, but dove in anyway just to say I was starting, while thinking I would figure out the rest as I went along.

So when I opened up my now defunct shop at Etsy, I started reading the board there in order to learn about how to promote my venture. I did the Flickr thing, the social networking thing, and the blogging thing. I signed up for all kinds of artisan forums and other sites where I could supposedly promote my shop. I never got around to using them all, because it didn't take me long to start realizing that promotion work is damn time consuming and there are only so many hours in a day. It also didn't take me long to start realizing that all these things don't work anyway. Blogging is the only thing I've stuck with, but that's because I enjoy it, not because it's helped drive people to my shops.

The commonly recommended ways of promoting your shop don't necessarily even work for those who position themselves as experts in the field. This point was really driven home to me lately when I investigated the shops of someone who has a blog dedicated to giving advice to online shop owners.

This person gives tons of seemingly good ideas on how to get your name out there and increase your sales. I read this person's blog regularly thinking I was learning something. But it never occurred to me to check this person's shops to see what his/her sales were like until recently. So one day I did, only to find out this person's sales are dismal. I have since unfollowed this person's blog. Why on Earth should I waste my time reading it when the advice this person gives isn't even working for him/her?

In a report I received from Christine Gierer last week she says the same thing I've been realizing lately—that the methods commonly touted as the way to drive people to your shop don't work. Christine used to have an Etsy shop, and did all the things recommended on the Etsy board to drive traffic to it, only to find out they don't work. She focuses more now on her website dedicated to how to make jewelry, but I've seen pics of her work and it's very nice. So it's not because her jewelry is ugly that she didn't find success at Etsy.

All of this is good news to me. I previously thought that maybe I wasn't working hard enough to achieve success, but now I realize that might not be the case. Furthermore, I know I make nice jewelry, and I still believe in what I'm doing and that I can succeed. But after close to two years of doing the online craft mall thing I'm not so sure anymore that it's for me.

Or maybe I'm wrong about all this. Perhaps doing all these things don't work for me specifically for other reasons, but that would be a subject for my personal blog. As I said before, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this matter.

But even if using third-party services to promote your online business did work, does it make sense to do so? Any one of them could go out of business at any time without warning. If that happens you're faced with the fact you've wasted a lot of time using one of these services to build your business, and have to start over again with some other service. By the same token, the online mall where you've set up your shop could close without warning, leaving you with the task of having to set up your own website in a hurry.

So where does that leave me now? I'm not sure. I think I've got a lot more thinking to do....

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Nomad

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:47:00 +0000

The fourth color up in this series is Nomad:

"Crème Brûlée, a grayed-down beige, and Nomad, which bridges the gap between beige and light gray, also speak to the need for timeless neutrals." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

I have no pieces that feature this color, but I'd love to see what you've got. Please post the link to your item in the comments section.

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Honey Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:14:00 +0000

I realized today that I had completely forgotten about this series, so here I am with the third color, which is Honey Yellow:

"A warmer, more subdued Honey Yellow carries the 2009 color of the year, PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa, through to fall and winter with its golden tones. Pairing Honey Yellow with its color wheel opposite, Purple Heart, will surely add a surprising flair. Or, for a more typical fall combination, group Honey Yellow with Burnt Sienna and Iron." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009.

This piece is currently not listed in my shop, but I'm going to show it off anyway:

So what goodies do you have in Honey Yellow? Post the links to your items in the comments section.

The Heroes of Handmade--Lesley Baize of PinkPerch

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:18:00 +0000

I discovered Lesley's shop recently through the Front Page of Etsy. She makes mobiles and wall art for babies and children, but you don't have to be a young'un to love her work. Those of us grown-ups with whimsy in our souls can get a kick out of Lesley's creations too.

1. How long have you been doing this?

I grew up in a craft-filled environment, because my mom was an artist. You can say it’s in my genes and for as long as I can remember I’ve been in a creative/inventive mode. I found my love for sewing when I started college in 2001. However, I only started making mobiles and selling my crafts in June, 2009.

2. What inspired you to get started?

I love the look of a clean, fresh style with a whimsical twist. When I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for while decorating a guest room, I decided to make it. I then thought maybe other people out there would like my creations and my line grew from there. Pretty, shiny things, nature, fairy tales, animals, and my nieces and nephew all inspire me.

3. What motivates you to keep going when things are low?

I love all the things I create and I think that is the key to staying motivated. It’s hard to have a low when you are doing what you love to do!

4. What's your philosophy behind your work?

My philosophy behind my work is to always enjoy what I’m creating. Before creating any design I ask myself these simple questions. "Would I have wanted this in my room as a child?" and "Would I want this in my own home today?"

Also, I think customer service is of the utmost importance when it comes to business and I strive to make my shop very friendly and welcoming.

5. What do you find the most rewarding about what you do?

Watching my designs come to life and then having someone appreciate my work is the most rewarding thing of all. I love hearing from parents who tell me they’ve searched high and low for the perfect mobile and they found it in my shop! It’s also very heartwarming to know that a new life will be enjoying my creations.

6. What do you find the most frustrating/most difficult about what you do?

I love what I create, so I find nothing frustrating about the creative process. It does get frustrating when I can’t find exactly what I need to make a design but I always figure something out.

7. What are your plans for the future of your business?

I would like to expand my collection to include cards, toys and other home goods. My own website may lie in the future, as well as having my creations in stores!

Monkey See Monkey Do Felt Mobile

Life's a Hoot Owl and Tree Felt Mobile - Custom Colors

This was the piece on the Front Page that caught my eye.

Paige Crystal and Pearl Dreamcatcher

Pink and Green Leaf Crystal Spiral Mobile Chandelier w/ Perched Bird

Beautiful Bold Butterflies - Pattern Paper Wall Art

U2 Live at the Rose Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:49:00 +0000

I just finished listening to the concert U2 gave at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena two nights ago. If you're a U2 fan this is a must see.

U2 at the Rose Bowl

Note: the link will open in a new window.

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--Purple Heart

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:09:00 +0000

The second color up in my series on the 2009 fall color forecast from Pantone^® is Purple Heart:

"Purple Heart connotes a sense of refinement and sensuality, adding an air of creativity and excitement to the top 10, especially when paired with American Beauty." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009.

Given that I'm a purple freak I of course have several items in that color in my shop. This necklace is my favorite:

Purple Four-in-One Ribbon Necklace

OK, your turn, show me your purple goodies.

My Jewelry is Going to the Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:10:00 +0000

And I mean that literally.

I recently had a commission from a friend of mine to make a necklace for her dog. She's a teacup chihuahua, and her name is Tinker or Tink. She's the most adorable critter you could ever hope to lay eyes on. Here are a few pics of Tink wearing her bauble:

Isn't she too cute for words? Gotta love those ears, eh?

Pantone's® 2009 Fall Color Forecast--American Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

This post marks the first in my series on the 2009 fall color forecast from Pantone^®. Along with posting about each of the colors individually I'll be inviting y'all to post links to any of your listings for items that contain the color in question. The item can be a piece of jewelry, clothing, or home decor article.

For those who haven't heard of the Pantone^® color-matching system, it's the foremost system of its kind in the world. Originally developed to help graphic designers produce accurate color matches, it has since been expanded to other industries, such as the fashion industry, the home decor industry, and the paint industry, to name a few.

Here is the full color palette, so you can see all the colors together:

The first color up is American Beauty:

"A natural choice during uncertain times, patriotic American Beauty, a wonderfully balanced true red, speaks to the need for cohesiveness. Perfect for all skin tones, American Beauty is a feel-good color." From the PANTONE^® Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

Currently, I have nothing listed in my shop that has this color in it, but I do have this piece, which I'll be listing again once I unveil my new artistic direction:

So now it's your turn. Show me what you got, everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving to My Canadian Friends

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

It's Thanksgiving in Canada today, so I'm wishing all my fellow Canucks a very happy day.

Of Interest to Jewelry Artisans Who Sell Online

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:12:00 +0000

A few days ago, I found out about a project being run by Christine Gierer of How to Make Jewelry. Christine is offering a free lesson series in which she builds two online jewelry businesses from the ground up. One will be built with a WordPress blog, and the other will be built using SBI (SiteBuildIt). I've signed up, and am looking forward to seeing what Christine has to show us.

I'm particularly interested in seeing how she builds the SBI site. I had a subscription to SBI quite a few years back for a site on women's strength training I wanted to set up. It never got off the ground, but I was very impressed with what I saw in SBI. I plan to get another subscription when the day comes for me to set up my own jewelry website.

If you're interested in signing up for the lessons you'll find the sign-up link on Rena Klingenberg's jewelry business blog.

Promotional Opportunity for Indie Artisans

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:23:00 +0000

I just found out about a great promotional opportunity for indie artisans. Angie Ledbetter, the owner of Gumbo Writer is looking for artisans to promote. So is Kathryn Magendie, the owner of Virginia Kate Sagas...

Hop on over to their blogs if you you'd like to add the link to your shop in the comments sections, or if you'd like to add the links of the shops of any family or friends.

Announcing Another Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:53:00 +0000

And it's not my own yet again.

Fellow jewelry artisan Lorelei Eurto is hosting a series of giveaways on her blog. The prizes are beads from Green Girl Studios. Green Girl Studios is owned and operated by artist, jewelry artisan, and bead artisan Cynthia Thornton and her husband Greg Ogden. Cynthia makes gorgeous beads, clasps, pendants, and other types of components in various types of metal. Sometimes her brother, Andrew Thornton, himself an artist and jewelry artisan, helps out with the making of the beads.

Be sure to drop by Lorelei's blog to enter the giveaway. She has a shop at Etsy, but it's closed this week while she revamps it. Until next week, you can browse her sold listings to get a look-see at her beautiful jewelry.

You can also check out Andrew's shop at Big Cartel to see some of his stunning creations.

My Big Clearance Sale--Everything Must Go

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:52:00 +0000

My shop is now ready to go for my big clearance sale. The prices on most of the items have been reduced by a whopping 50%. This is your chance to get some gorgeous handcrafted jewelry at rock bottom prices, so run, don't walk to check out the goodies.

Here are a few of the offerings:

Amethyst Cloisonne Earrings

Sale price: 5.00 U.S.

Plus-Size Green and Blue Bracelet with Matching Earrings

Sale price: 20.00 U.S.

Gothic Colors Greek Ceramic Beads Necklace

Sale price: 11.00 U.S.

There's no time limit to the sale, and everything must go.

I have a few more pieces to list, which I'll be doing from now until the weekend. Happy shopping, y'all.

My New Model

noreply@blogger.com (jeweledrabbit) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Those of you who follow my personal blog will recognize Baby Bo, the cute little fella in the pic below. He discovered yesterday that he loves to wear jewelry, and donned a whole bunch of my lovely creations today. Since I have to wait for the owner of Winkelf to make a change to my shop before I announce my big clearance sale I snapped a pic of Baby Bo all decked out to delight and entertain you all.

Please give a warm welcome to Libearace, Baby Bo's alter ego: