byZarah.com

Chocolate Cupcake Sunday

Zarah — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:25:32 +0000

I woke up yesterday having word “bake” ringing in my head, no time for breakfast here! So I got started right away, mixing all the ingredients for my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe. But then I realized that I didn’t have any oil… Ops… So I had to ask someone to go and buy a new bottle, and this someone was so kind to do that!

It didn’t take long until I got my oil and could continue with my cupcakes. Oooo when making chocolate cupcakes don’t forget to add Big pieces of chocolate, it makes it so much more delicious.

I got the best result so far when pushing the chocolate pieces into the cupcake mixture after it’s placed in the baking cups… Otherwise all the chocolate pieces will sink to the bottom.

My baking of cupcakes is changed forever after I got my silicone baking cups. When I use them my cupcakes never burn or dry out! And with these silicone baking cups there is no need for butter because it’s a nonstick material, soo perfect…

Baking these cupcakes was one of my most relaxed and wonderful sunday in a long time, I really enjoyed it. Usually sundays are sleepy days for me, but this was great. The creative juices are flowing! I better make my sundays baking cupcake day.

Now I got tons of new inspiration for jewelry making…. Love that feeling. Hope you all also had a great weekend and got some rest too

Chocolate cupcakes right out of the oven

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Greetings and Sushi from a Great View in Stockholm

Zarah — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:27:38 +0000

Hi, here I am, enjoying summer I have just had the most wonderful lunch at a sushi restaurant with my husband, and this photo is taken just outside it. My stomach is full now because I have eaten too much sushi…

It’s my first time eating sushi from a conveyor belt! Is that japanese or what? It was so fun! I recommend that, you can chose the most tasty-looking pieces and share the doubles with someone as I did with my husband.

There are so many fantastic places to see here in Stockholm, and this pretty view is only one example If you can, do visit the city of Stockholm one day. The best time of the year is summer I think… Hope you’re enjoying summer too! Take care and hugs!

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Selling Jewelry: Why Handmade Bead Jewelry

Zarah — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:35:13 +0000

As you might have read on the blog, right now I’m creating my own jewelry brand. So far I’m on Step 1 on my list, “5 First Steps to Branding Your Jewelry“. Step 1 is about deciding what my product to sell will be. I came to the conclusion that it will be handmade bead jewelry. It’s important to state why you choose to sell jewelry as your product. Here are some of my reasons why.

Why I choose Handmade Bead Jewelry

I think there is a always a need for jewelry, since wearing jewelry and beads is a tradition existing in all kind of cultures back in time.

From the beginning when there were no machines, making beaded jewelry by hand was the only way to do it. So the process of making handmade jewelry is quite natural so to speak.

Bead jewelry for special occasions is being worn at weddings, celebrations and different ceremonies for ages. In everyday life jewelry is worn as keepsakes or decorations, and through out history women and men has worn jewelry to enhance their beauty… Isn’t it cool?

After these tough times in world economy we need to feel good about ourselves and we want to encourage that by wearing clothes and jewelry we can be proud of. Beads and pearls are pretty treasures with a sense of great value. We wear jewelry because when we look good we feel good.

We want that extra feel-good-boost everyday by wearing jewelry with a special design, beautiful beads and precious materials. We want the jewelry to speak for us, tell a story, give us uniqueness and style. That is what I want to give to the wearer of my jewelry.

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5 First Steps to Branding Your Jewelry

Zarah — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:46:02 +0000

One of the best ways to begin learning something new is to do research on the subject. Right now I’m reading about branding since I want to do my own jewelry brand. Very interesting, and there are many good points I will have to consider when I make decisions concerning my new jewelry line. Here is a list of goodies I have found so far. Enjoy!

1. Find out what is your product

When you make jewelry as a hobby it might be new to think of it as a product, but you will need to. Have this in mind: is this something that will appeal to people, fill a need? Someone said: “If you’re creating a product that no one wants to buy, it’s hard to be a business”. That says something about market demand…

2. Who is your buyer?

Take a look at the people currently buying your jewelry, why not ask them to answer a short survey. What about a poll on Facebook or your blog? Ask about age, gender, but also find out about the wants and needs. Where, when and what do they do to fill those desires. One question which can give you much information is: What do they like about your jewelry? (design, price, colors, materials) Find the common strengths and build on that.

3. How is your work different

Set yourself apart from other jewelry makers. Work hard to excel at your technique, style or special material you’re using. High quality work will stand out. Make your designs “your own”, make them communicate your skills and who you are. Create a story or add humor and personality to the jewelry pieces. This gives the jewelry special value, people are drawn to art jewelry for these reasons.

4. Brand identification

Every part of the brand identity, product, logo, name, font style and etc, identifies the product but it also tells the brand story. So these things must be consistent, so that your brand speaks the same language all the way.

You don’t want to confuse customers or potential new buyers. Before deciding on support materials such as packaging, think about how the materials and colors will reinforce the concept of the brand.

It will take a while before people recognize your brand, so the more brand identifiers you have in the beginning the better. Also important is that once you establish your identity, stay with it, because different names will confuse people.

5. Be professional

Take your business seriously from the start, because now you’re a businessperson as well as an artist. Everything that represents a business reflects on the business. This is why you should have your business cards, website, photos and packaging produced professionally.

When it comes to you as a person always show up on time and deliver what you promised or more. Delivering more than expected is better, that will give the customer a feeling of being special. These feelings of being special will stick to the customer, so as a rule never promise more than you know you can deliver…

After my research for these 5 First steps to Branding Your Jewelry I have so much to do with my new jewelry brand. It’s very exciting to finally begin!

I hope these few first steps has given you new ideas and some enlightenment on the subject on branding your own jewelry line.

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Beach 2010 in Sweden is Here!

Zarah — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:16:49 +0000

We are having the most amazing summer here in Stockholm, Sweden! Hot beach days and nice weekends with friends and family. The temperature has been about 25-35 degrees celsius. The weather is very sunny and warm but it’s still a comfortable heat. Lovely… I took some photos of My Beach 2010. Check them out!

One of my favorite things to do at a swedish summer is to stay at the beach… Getting tanned, playing with my sisters kids in the water. Doing my reading…

Right now I’m reading the John Chow book “Make Money Online”. It’s really interesting, so many good tips and he is giving out all his secrets on the subject! I ordered it online a few months ago.

Back to swimming, this summer and beach of 2010 I’m teaching my sisters daughter how to swim. She didn’t learn that in school and she is already 8 years old. So I thought it’s time! She is doing great progress, being able to swim more and more!

Boys and girls learning how to float in the water, which is also important

Here is my little swimmer girl, covering my feet in sand

I also played volleyball and badminton at the beach, it’s a great way to workout! Running in the hot sand and sun is wonderful for getting in shape How to describe the feeling when you dive into the water after doing something like that? It’s almost indescribable but Fantastic might do for now…

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Precious Metal Clay Jewelry (PMC 3)

Zarah — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:35:07 +0000

Here I have gathered some of my most “precious” metal clay jewelry pieces I’ve made! I love to be inspired by others metal clay jewelry, there is so much to see and getting new ideas for my own jewelry pieces.

When making silver jewelry components, the best clay to use is PMC 3 (precious metal clay). Some people are using art clay silver, but since PMC 3 is stronger than art clay I use precious metal clay in all my jewellry.

Precious Metal Clay Necklaces

The dog tag necklace has a very simple design really. I’ve just added a ball chain and a jump ring to it. A huge advantage of a simple jewelry design is the versatility, being able to use it all the time if you want.

Precious Metal Clay jewelry, a dog tag necklace

The other necklace is a mens metal clay jewelry which I gave to my husband. I made it with a rough surface which gives that old feel about it.

Precious metal clay jewelry is fantastic that way, you can design the surface just the way you like. Make it shiny as a mirror, or with a pattern, or why not naturally rough like this one… Endless possibilities.

Precious Metal Clay Earrings

Earrings making is so much fun too! The best way to get a pair of earring pendants to have the same shape is to sand them back to back, like a sandwich. That’s to say in the bone dry state before firing. Making faux enamel on precious metal clay earrings or jewelry.

Precious Metal Clay earrings jewelry

This is the silver donut earrings in metal clay (PMC 3)

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Chinese Porcelain Animal Beads

Zarah — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:21:47 +0000

They are such darlings! Who? The black chinese porcelain animal beads which I just found! They’re totally adorable, don’t you think?!

Earlier I have also used white chinese porcelain animal beads, that was when I made a macramé bracelet. I had a great time doing making it!

Also porcelain beads looks handmade so I can see their rich history in front of me… The smooth surface on a porcelain bead is very nice too…

Chinese Porcelain Animal Beads in Jewelry

Making bracelets with the animal beads is perfect. They look so neat sitting on your hand wrist, which is why they have been so popular to incorporate in macrame bracelets. But you can use them in necklaces and in earrings too. This is the post where I used the white chinese porcelain beads: How to Make Macramé Bracelets.

Bracelet & Earrings with Chinese Porcelain Animal Beads

Take a look at these sweet animals beads, don’t you just want to take them home with you? If you’re the brave type you want the black ones but if you more into classical style, the traditional white chinese porcelain animal beads are what you need. Find them and make you own jewelry piece with an animal porcelain bead! My favorite is the black bunny you in the middle.

Black Chinese Porcelain Animal Beads

White Chinese Porcelain Animal Beads

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Making My Own Jewelry Brand

Zarah — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:31:19 +0000

I’ve finally decided to start working on my own jewelry brand. There has been many ideas for a name but I will consider the alternatives a bit more. The name of a jewelry brand is very important of course, so it has to be appropriate now and yet durable for later on… Don’ t worry I will come up with something.

I’m so happy to share this with you now because it’s the new project I will be working on. Yet the best part of it is that I will be blogging about it!

Find Brand Name

I’ve made up my mind not to be stuck just because I didn’t decide on the jewelry name yet. Whenever decision anxiety appears, it needs to be eliminated quickly!

After the name is decided then I will be needing a logo. I’m really excited about that, I wanna see how an idea develops into the shape of my new jewelry logo. Here I’m thinking something sophisticated and modern, but also something personal.

Selling Jewelry in Web Shop

I wanna make my own jewelry brand because that I need a better way to sell my jewelry. I love making all the jewelry pieces but sometimes there is not enough time to go out and sell them.

Designing the brand will be one aspect of this project, another one will be to find a smooth web shop where I can list all the pieces I want to sell.

I will be sharing everything about the new jewelry brand making!

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Jewelry Doll Stand Display

Zarah — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:26:12 +0000

Now summer is here and that calls for some creative and colorful ideas… I’ve painted a new jewelry doll stand, it’s for keeping or displaying your jewelry. This doll I had to paint in light colors as this pink and green. She is standing in the grass as you can see. Jewelry stands are so great to have for all jewelry. The red jewelry doll stand I made about a year ago, it now belongs to my mother in law…

Pink Jewelry Doll Stand Display

The last time I saw that jewelry doll, it was placed on her night stand. So this is partially why I needed to make more jewelry stands. I wonder how long I will be able to keep it? Right now me and my husband is having a glass of wine together, he is working I’m blogging. Haha a perfect combo!

Ohh my new pink jewelry doll stand, where will I put it? Any ideas? Hmm I need to hang my latest necklace designs on something…. It will be this lady dolls occupation to keep them pretty for the eye!

Maybe I mentioned it before, but I have moved! I have moved from Oslo, Norway to Stockholm, Sweden. My husband got a great job here so we were so happy to be able to move back. I have missed Sweden so much actually, nowhere is like home I’m enjoying everyday as I wake up here to see the sun shining on my balcony. I’ve had lots of coffee on our balcony the past few days, I LOVE IT!

My new pink jewelry doll stand

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A Lovely Morning for some Fresh Air

Zarah — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:01:12 +0000

This is a fabulous day! I’m just getting ready to go out, the weather is great. Sky is blue, temperature is hot and there are flowers in the trees. Can you see them? It’s smelling so sweet from them as I stand on my balcony here. Today I will wear my red dress and go out to do some secret shopping…

Earlier I’ve done some laundry so I’m soon finished with the boring necessary stuff for today. It’s always better to do all that in the beginning of the day when possible, that way I can get more room and inspiration for all my jewelry ideas.

Last weekend I had a cold with high fever, but I’m better now so I’m gonna take this chance to get some fresh air. I have just moved, so I guess that I didn’t get enough sleep. I spent my nights cleaning out the apartment and the days at work… A perfect recipe for a cold.

There now, I better get going!

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