Jill MacKay's BLOG

Home from Jewel School

2011-09-15T22:45:27-04:00

Hi All,

I have been meaning to write about my trip and all that happened down in Knoxville while working with Jewel School and Jewelry TV. But it's just now getting to the top of the get it done list. It seems crazy that it has almost been 2 weeks already! So I thought at the very least I should post some images from my trip.

I learned so much while there, which will make my next trip down go even smoother!

Hostesses with the mostesses Margot & Kim with me after the show ended. Major thank yous to these talented women and the crew and producers that make it all look easy!

Behind the scenes at Jewel School!

Another set at Jewelry Television

During the show...

The magnetic clasp kit sold the most and they want more! Very happy with my experience and how everything went.

Looking forward to the BSBP hop on the 17th. Can't wait to see all the different work though there are so many participants that it would take three days to view them all!

xoxo

Jill

Almost time for Knoxville!

2011-08-25T16:02:35-04:00

So the beginning of this week was spent finishing up and getting my shipment out to Jewel School / Jewelry TV! My first shipment, my first P.O. with them. I thought they put the item number / bar code sticker on each kit...NOPE! My job! So at the last minute it was sticker time! Thank goodness for the nice neighbor boy Rylee for coming over to help me! Because there was a lot of stickers!

Over 2000 to be exact!

Happy to have this behind me and knowing everything arrived in Knoxville! Phew.

xoxo

Jill

Bead Soup Goodies - Thank You Mr. Postman!

2011-08-22T12:49:00-04:00

My partner in the Blog Soup Blog Party is the wonderful and talented Lori Bergman of Ashlyn Design. I got my package of goodies over the weekend and wow are they sweet! The color palette is wonderful as is the fine craftsmanship of Lori Bergman who made them especially for the occasion. Thank you Lori!

No these beads are not participating in the witness protection program, the photo was intentionally blurred so to entice and tease you. I just wanted to wet your whistle and give you some idea without ruining the surprize.

There is another Lori to be thanked...Lori Anderson of Pretty Things. She is the initiator of the Blog Soup Party / Blog Hop. It has to be just a TON of work as there are over 300 participants!!! Lori matches us up with a partner according to styles of our work and more. Then keeps us all on track. She's behind all the fun that we get to have. Thank you Lori!

The actual blog hop will happen Sept. 17th. Our blogs will be linked so you can see all of the work of participating members of the blog hop. I for one cannot wait to see! So I have to hit the studio and get to work.

xoxo

Jill

Introducing Vivian Feiler

2011-08-17T07:31:30-04:00

Yesterday I was contacted by a wonderful designer that uses my work in her work. She is very talented, and delightful. I thought it would be nice to introduce her to you.

Her name is Vivian Feiler and you can check out her and her work at www.vivianfeilerdesigns.com

Here's a little preview in which she used JM-028 Swirl pendant. I LOVE what she has done with it. So simple and elegant! Thanks Vivian!

xoxo

Jill

ABS MONTHLY CHALLENGE

2011-08-03T04:55:47-04:00

Check it out: I am donating a $50.00 gift certificate to one of the winners of this month's Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge! http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

I cannot wait to see what everyone makes this month!!! So many talented people in the world! Thanks Heather Powers for the invitation and opportunity to be a sponsor! Love the color palette and challenge itself. My favorite bead blog on the web!

xoxo

Jill

Jewel School and JTV

2011-07-28T10:06:29-04:00

I just booked my flight to Knoxville TN where I will be heading down to meet and work with the good people at Jewel School and

I will be appearing on air September 4th with many a selection of my components and findings. This is very exciting and such a lovely opportunity.

I will be selling 5 different kits! Clasp kits, pendant kits and more.

The people I am fortunate to be dealing with are communicative, friendly, fun and have business savvy. All this to say it makes for a great experience and a wonderful gig. I owe this connection to my talented friend Margot Potter. She is a powerhouse of creativity and now a host on Jewel School.

Margot introduced me to everyone while down in Tucson and the results of our work will soon be realized! Looking forward and love this opportunity and the others to come....

Off to the studio!

xox

Jill

I Love Teresa Meister!

2011-05-11T17:26:06-04:00

Why? Besides the fact that she is a wonderful human being, exceedingly talented, not to mention fun....LOOK what happens when she combines my work and hers!

Teresa's unique use of seed beads and jump rings makes for a really beautiful look and a better ride. These pieces are so fluid. Lots of movement, very comfortable to wear, they move and lay so nice.

Close up of Teresa's necklace in which she used my sterling silver floral connectors. Glad Teresa does seed beading I can't see size 11 beads much less smaller! Yikes!

This gorgeous bracelet shows my Twig Triple Strand Spacer and a new magnetic Flower Top magnetic clasp. I cannot wait to see this in person!

Thank you so much Teresa. You are wonderful as is your work!

Please see more of Teresa's work at here website www.teresameister.com

xoxo

Jill

Visual Blogging

2011-05-10T10:06:32-04:00

Hi All,

It seems I have writers block. I think of blogging often but don't as often as I should. Part of this is because some of my clients are so big that I have to follow contractual obligations about even publishing names and news when and how. Though another reason is because I am more about images than words. I am much more a visual creature than a writer. So in the interest of sharing more often I have decided to do more visual posts. More images, fewer words, unless I am sharing something specific or newsworthy. Here we go! My view of color style and trend in jewelry. A new set ...I love Polyvore!

xoxo

Jill

5_2011 by Jill MacKay featuring butterfly stud earrings

Wor

Cool Stuff!

2011-03-15T20:48:54-04:00

Yay! Thank you Beadwork Magazine for listing my Lacey Leather Cuff in the "Cool Stuff" section of the April/May 2011 issue! This bracelet is one of the pieces I designed and licensed to the good folks at Silver Creek Leather. There is more exciting news about this line coming soon! Not allowed to tell yet but is definitely good news! Doing the Happy Dance!

The Lacey Leather Cuff comes in saddle tan or black (with ST being the best selling of the two colors) and has a lobster claw closure, with an adjustable chain at the end of which dangles a small charm. How charming! The bracelet looks great as shown above (plain) or you can liven it up with some of the individual screw back decorative focals (shown below). These focals screw off and on through the holes in the bracelet! Easy Peasy! They come in three different designs to chose from. The screws lay flush on the inside of the bracelet when attached and are not noticeable to the skin when worn. They are light weight and comfortable. I love the whole idea of having more choices in how one piece of jewelry can look. We all need more choices right?! Not to mention change we are in control of!

Here are the three single decorative focals that work with the lacey leather cuff:

Which do you like best? By the way if anybody can come up with a better name than decorative screw back focals I'd certainly be open o suggestions!!! HELP!

Have a great week and take care out there.

xoxo

Jill

2011 Trend Blurb

2011-01-20T10:53:17-05:00

Hi all!

I thought I would post a short trend blurb that I wrote for my good friend and colleague Mike Hartnett the publisher of Creative Leisure News. Reading his well written, industry insider, information filled newsletter is a must. Every one in the industry reads and subscribes to stay up to date with what's new and changing. CLN delivers the most current information for the craft industry. From time to time CLN uses me as an expert (imagine that!) and I am always flattered and in very good company. Thanks Mike! So if you haven't heard about it or read it before please take time to check it out. PLease click here: www.clnonline.com

My latest trend blurb for CLN with permission from the author..... (me!)

2011 Predictions: Jewelry

Big, bold, and personalized, one-of-a-kind creations.

by Jill Mackay (January 17, 2011)

(Note: Jill has designed a wide variety of jewelry supplies for various manufacturers and distributors. Her latest line can be seen at the CHA show in the booth -- #439 – of a new exhibitor, Silver Creek Leather.)

Big color-block styles in active-wear fashion trends call for the bold use of jewelry with lots of bright colors. With color block designs, bold hues appear side by side, intensifying the eye-catching effect of each individual color. The mixing and merging of colors can occur in the garment or accessory. The look is easy to achieve with a juxtaposition of accessories in bold shapes and bright solid hues.

Pieces made to wear (and define) active lifestyles are full of movement and encourage the use of leather, which is durable and being jazzed up with all sorts of metal and beaded decoration. Long bracelets that wrap multiple times around the wrist and forearm suggest stacked bangles look, which continues to be popular. The combination of pure decoration and sentiment suggests anything goes in mixed-media jewelry making. The combination of many different metals in one piece with beads and chain is a strong look. Stamped metals along with a widening choice of stamping tools and textured hammers are big as metal smithing continues to gain more and more active practitioners.

Long, multi-strand necklaces with lots of fringe appeal and layers step up in popularity. Accessories that relate to one another (as in your jewelry and your shoes and or purse) shows style, intellect and creativity. Eco-sustainable materials and sources continue to gather steam. Speaking of steam: those of you out there who found out about Steampunk late and are still trying to make it a happening trend -- forget about it! It’s been done and it’s done, over, kaput, period.

Technology continues to grow at lightning speed offering us varieties of ways to connect and share techniques, find materials, and locate places to shop. MASS MINGLING is the happening, world-changing mega-trend. There's now an all-encompassing information layer on top of real-world daily life, that (especially when mobile and location-based), turns "connecting" into 24/7 and "on the go," further blurring the boundaries between online and offline. Follow designers and bead companies, and receive updated blogs, video lessons, and latest coupons real time. Group buying and opinions matter and now you can get all of it in an instant.

There should be an app for staying on top of all the new ways to do things; though there’s nothing like walking a trade show for keeping your figure on the pulse of a category or an industry.

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More soon!

xoxo

Jill