Frustration

Rant:

Ok, so I am trying to apply for more shows to get my jewelry out there more, one: so people can enjoy it and two: because it is kind of useless if its just hanging out in my studio. Yes, I do have it in a store, which is awesome, but I want to expand more and I can't expand if I am stuck in all of the same thing.
I go to apply for a show, fill out all of the information they requested online, and I am ready to login so that I can submit pictures, and it does not let me log in. I mean come on! So I email the organization to see maybe it just takes a little while for the information to be put in the database. I got an email back tonight that said (nicely, I am in no way insulting them, just needed to tell someone about it) is that they are no longer accepting any beaded or sea glass jewelry. I understand that the jewelry market is becoming very saturated, but how are upcoming jewelry artists going to get noticed if people instantly think that they do beaded stuff. Yes, I did start off with that (who doesn't?) but now I am incorporating more silver and metalwork into my pieces, but I still use beads, but they are usually nice pearls and crystals or semi precious stones. Not anything junky. And the must frustrating part of it is that they had not even seen any pictures of my work, and they instantly judged me! So, I emailed the organization back and described my work, so hopefully I will hear back soon.
Ok, my rant is over. Now on the the good stuff :)

New jewelry!
I think I mentioned how I was starting new lines of jewelry, and I have made some progress. I made two silver poppies (I did a bunch of samples in copper first to experiment), and they will probably be earrings, and then I will make another one into a pendant, and hopefully I will make a ring soon too.
The bezels are done, they are being tumbled so that they are nice and shiny, and then I will put the stones in (so I should have pictures soon...I know I promised awhile ago..I got distracted..woops)

Other than that I have been making cha cha earrings, which for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, they are individually wire wrapped pearls on sterling silver chain, and they are in clusters. Super fun, because I can make them in any color, or in any amount of pearls. I make each of the headpins myself, as well as the ear wires, and eventually I will be making all of the chain too. (but thats another project to do). I made about 7 pairs of them last night and today.

So because I typed up soo much in this post, here are some pretty flowers to make it better.

Enjoy :)






Until next time :)

Creating Lines of Jewelry

I love making jewelry in sets, whether people want the whole set or not. So now building on that I am in the process of creating lines of jewelry, which will hopefully be more marketable to stores. I am very fortunate to have my jewelry in the Jewel Box of Cape Cod, but I would love to get it into more stores. I have general ideas for names, I don't know if I want to be super fancy with them or not, but the names will develop themselves as soon as the lines are completed.
The list as of right now is:
-ocean (I know, super broad right? But I am starting to make lots of more shell and ocean inspired jewelry. And why not, I am surrounded by the ocean.)
-circle (I have a lot of different circle ideas right now that I have done, I just need to think of a cooler name.)
-starflower
-poppy
-bezels

The last three I haven't created many pieces yet, but I am in the process of making many more, as my supplies allow. I am trying not to order so much silver, as much as I would like to because I really need to save my money for books and expenses at school. (It's crazy what they charge for textbooks!!)
Once I have some definitive pieces done, I will definitely share them. I know I said it would be a week until I would have the bezels done, but alas they are still sitting on my bench. (woops.)

Until next time :)
Kate

Bezels!

I have been starting to make lots of bezels, because I have all of these cool cabochons that I've been collecting. They are still in the beginning phases, but I hope to have pictures within the next week. I have two pendants and one ring almost completely made, and a couple that are still in the beginning processes.
I really do like it, I think I found another technique to get addicted to.

I also will be taking a class (not in bezels, but that's okay), on the 18th at the Bead House. Stephanie Sersich will be back, and she is teaching her spiny knotted necklace. I have been dying to take this class ever since I took the spiny-knotted bracelet with her. She is such a great teacher! The necklace requires lots of beads, so its a good thing that I have a lot! ;)

Keep being creative!

Kate