EtsyMetal Team Blog Carnival ~ Jewelry Industry Changes
February 2, 2015
The Blog subject of the month is a discussion on what changes have occurred in the time we have been in the jewelry business. Even in the short time I have been selling my wearables I have seen some changes. I’ll bullet point a few:
* From the Brick-And-Morter to the World-Wide-Web. I do remember when there were a lot more shops around town selling jewelry and, for that matter, everything else. So many of them closing the doors in recent years. Buying and selling on the web has become more convenient for both buyers and sellers. The internet has changed so much about our lives and relationships.
* Digital Photography. It has become much more affordable to own a decent digital macro camera. Thus, better ability to see the nitty gritty detail of the jewelry (this goes hand in hand with selling online). People are more likely to shop online when they can see the very close details of the product. That having been said, there are still a lot of people who like to touch and feel a piece of jewelry before making a purchase.
* Art/Craft Shows. One upon a time you could throw down your tapestry, lay out your jewelry and accept cash or check. The show was a place to mingle with old friends, meet some new ones, leave with a pocket full of dollar bills, happy customers and a few new friends. Today there is a lot of red-tape and high cost of booth space. We can be much more productive in accepting credit cards with the smart phones, better lighting and display methods. Generally (not all) the shows have become larger.
In summary a lot has changed but many jewelers use traditional, old fashioned techniques in their designs. Perhaps there in lies that special thing that we call handmade.
I do like change. However ,I am drawn to things of the past. The good ole days, really were.
Enjoy reading what other EtsyMetal Team members have to say:
New Work ~ Carved Ivory Rose Necklace
June 25, 2013
Working at the bench in the last few days. I have been using carved ivory roses in my designs. These are so feminine and lovely! Here is my latest pendant, currently available in my Etsy-Shop handmade with fine and sterling silver. Oxidized (darkened) to bring out the creamy color of the ivory. A super high quality fresh water pearl adorns the end of the chain:
Brooch A Week #23 ~ sea Glass and Ivory
June 11, 2013
Brooch # 23! Yay… Feels so good to be past the half-way point.
The pale colors in this one are accentuated by the oxidized sterling silver! This one wears very comfortably.
A one of a kind pin featuring pale blue sea glass and a vintage carved bone rose. Nestled in a hand fabricated textured sterling silver bezel setting.
EtsyMetal Team Blog Carnival ~ Summer Plans!
June 3, 2013
Please enjoy reading Blog articles by members of the EtsyMetal Team!
This month the EtsyMetal Team is writing about our summer plans.
Summer marks the start of the concert season here in New Mexico. Concerts are something we do as a family. I usually grab tickets as soon as they go on sale. So far I have tickets to see Rob Zombie with Five Finger Death Punch and Alice Cooper with Marilyn Manson. I look forward to seeing these bands as they do not come to NM very often. We like a wide variety of music to include heavy-Metal, country, hip hop and old-school Rock.
I’ll be working on improving my chicken coop with protective fencing so that they can stay in one area safely. We have preditors such as coyotes, hawks, owls and raccoons (they eat eggs and baby chicks). The horse pen needs some re-vamping as well. Oh so much to do!
And… of course I will be making new jewelry which I so look forward to!
Read on…
Brooch A Week #21 ~ Fisher-Body Badge Pin
May 30, 2013
I think this one may be my favorites so far.
I found a few of these vintage employee badges from Fisher Body. They were an automobile coach builder founded in 1908 in Detroit. These badges were made by Superior Seal & Stamp Co. This badge is in really great condition and built super strong. Fisher Body (no longer in business) punched a hole in this badge. I have read that after they closed the plant, they punched holes in the badges. I made a sterling silver grommet for the hole and added a beautiful vintage crystal button set in a handmade sterling silver bezel setting.
Fisher Body has got quite a history. This particular badge is from the Hamilton/Fairfield, Ohio plant which was closed in 1988.
Brooch A Week #16 through #20
May 16, 2013
BAW52 # 15 is a lovely little copper “Vector” pin. I’ve placed a sterling silver rivet at “True North”. Always follow your heart to your own True-North!
I’m giving this one away with the purchase of any of my other BAW52 Brooches. All available pins are listed at Adobe Sol Designs.
Brooch A Week #14
March 28, 2013
One of my favorites so far! This pin features a fabulous piece of glass coral handmade by Lori Lochner. She is one of my favorite glass artists. All set in sterling silver, I used a sage-green Prehnite cabochon to set off the deep red in the coral. What a great way to wear coral without having to kill it!!
This pin along with all other Brooch-A-Week pins are listed on my website.
Brooch A Week #11, #12
March 19, 2013
I’m keeping a good pace on the brooches! BAW52 is so much fun. I look forward to what comes next. I just got in some really magnificent cabochons which will be my inspiration for the next pin!
Finished with 11 and 12. I’m super happy with the way each of them turned out.
#11 is made with sterling silver and faceted clear quartz stone. Still running on my “Shapes” inspiration, I designed it with a heart, ring and a freeform dangle at the bottom for interest:
#12 is one of my classic designs, that I love, featuring a MOP vintage button hand set in oxidized sterling silver.
Brooch A Week #10
March 15, 2013
This week, for the Brooch A Week Flickr Challenge, I made a little sterling silver “shapes” pin. The circle and square spin freely. The white topaz is nice and has a lot of fire!
Adobe Sol Designs ~ The Blog 