MORE Good Reading

Here is a short list of jewelry and metalworking books I have read over the past few years:

Chain Mail Jewelry: Contemporary Designs from Classic Techniques by Terry Taylor and Dylon Whyte
I adore this book! It is well illustrated, the instructions are easy to comprehend even with limited chainmaking skills or knowledge. The book progresses from beginner weaves through more challenging weaves to "expert" weaves. It features over 30 projects in full-color and easy to interpret computer-generated graphics. If you are thinking about trying you hand at chainmaille, I highly suggest this book.

Contemporary Bead & Wire Jewelry by Nathalie Mornu & Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott
I read this book solely based on the front cover image. The herringbone weave was featured in a lovely pair of sterling silver and red bead/gemstone earrings. Well, to my disappointment, the book contained very little visual instruction and relied heavily on written step-by-step instruction. The photographs of the completed projects were inspiring, but the how-to instructions were lacking.

Creative Silver Chains: 20 Dazzling Designs by Chantal Lise Saunders
A very well written and illustrated book. I was pleased to find a book which focused on chainmaking (not chainmaille). Just a note...this book requires the use of a torch and knowledge of soldering and fusing. This is not for a novice jewelry designer.

Making Metal Jewelry: Projects, Techniques, Inspiration by Joanna Gollberg
Every jewelry designer and budding metalsmith should own this book! This is one of the few books I have purchased to keep in my home library too (most books I use are borrowed from the library). This book uses cold-connections exclusively (no torch or soldering required). One of the down sides to this book is the number of tools required to work the projects, so if you are just starting out the number of projects you will be able to create are limited. However, skills such as piercing, sawing, riveting, and joining are covered in detail. Other techniques include: metal texturing and finishing, chasing, etching, and adding a patina to certain metals.

A GOOD Read

Though I think I have read what seems like hundreds of books on crafting and the business of crafting, I am just now getting around to compiling a list of some of the best/better books I have read.

In no particular order....

Crafts and Craft Shows: How to Make Money by Philip Kadubec
Though this book was written in 2000, it is written from the perspective of a seasoned crafter who has been touring the Pacific Northwest exhibiting at craft shows for 18 years. It covers such topics as: marketing yourself and your product, pricing, show selection, booth display and set up, customer service and more!
The book is an easy read and written in common language...in other words, you won't need an art degree or business degree to understand any of the topics.

Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry : The Complete Guide to Turning Your Passion into Profit by Viki Lareau
Published in 2006, and written by a jewelry/business mentor, this guide to entering the jewelry business compiles firsthand knowledge and wide experiences for those looking to take their hobby to the next level. The books starts with the basics of assessing style, time commitment, and target markets Equally important, the sections progress through business licenses and tax numbers, developing a cohesive presentation for a business, and the fine art of pricing for a profit.
Another easy read. I finished the book cover-to-cover on a train ride to Chicago (1 1/2 hrs.).

More to come.....

More pictures, as promised!

I've began working on the Swiss Blue Topaz bracelet and I really like it! The high-polish of the Sterling Silver looks great with the bright blue of the Topaz.

I also completed the earrings for the Peridot set and will photograph them soon.

I wish my pictures were a little brighter, but they were taken at my workbench.....

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Candy has been consumed and sugar-coma has began to set in...LOL

Making Easter a little more GREEN

Seems like I've had green on the brain lately! Eco-green and the color!

Well, for the past few years I have been avoiding buying plastic Easter grass to fill the kids' Easter baskets. Besides the fact that I think it is such a waste, stray pieces always seem to plug up the vacuum cleaner's beater bar, and I've been told some pets like to eat it. Yuck!

I usually buy paper grass to fill the baskets. This way I can reuse the shreddings for packaging and it doesn't seem to affect my vacuuming either. Two very big pluses for paper Easter grass.

This year paper Easter grass was no where to be found. I decided to make my own. It may not be as long or crinkly (sp?) as the kind I used to buy, but it will fill the void quite nicely. I used my paper shredder (which usually shreds all that junk mail and obscene credit card offers) to shred a few sheets of green and yellow colored paper. I like the way it turned out, if I do say so myself!

Wishing all my readers a Happy Easter!

FINISHED - Photo

In this photo all the Peridot gemstones have been set, the bracelet is polished...now just to make the matching earrings and it'll be complete!

Next week I'll begin working on the Swiss Blue Topaz gemstone bracelet.

Oh, I'm just so pleased at how it turned out (tooting my own horn!!)! I love how the antiquing really brings depth and character to the piece. At first I was a little hesitant that the antiquing coupled with the Peridot would be a little too dark, but I'm glad I went with the decision to go ahead and do it anyway. :)

Photos, as promised

Here is a photo of the bracelet after it has been antiqued. One stone has been set!

If you notice, there are more stones (Peridot) at the bottom of the photo. I will be using two of these for a matching pair of earrings.

the RAM

I have decided and officially committed to entering 2 works of art into the Racine Art Museum's (RAM) Student Show. The two shows will run May 24th through July 12th.

The first exhibit's theme is color. The show is titled, "What's With Hue?" For this exhibit I have chosen to highlight colored gemstones. After drawing-up 20 or more designs, I decided on creating two sterling silver bracelets...one will be antiqued and the other will be a high polish. The colored gemstones I chose are Peridot and Swiss Blue Topaz. Now I just have to finalize whether I want to use both colored gems in a single bracelet, or only one. Hmmm...what do you prefer?

The second exhibit's theme is nature. This show is titled, "All Natural Ingredients." For this exhibit I will be creating a hand-knotted natural lavender pearl necklace with a sterling silver toggle clasp. I'm really excited about this piece! My pearls just arrived the other day and they are truly magnificent to behold! I have a weakness for pearls in general, but the color of these natural gemstones are just delicious! I almost can't wait to start knotting them on the silk threads.

I'll be sure to post pictures of their progress over the next few weeks.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

To all my Irish and Irish-for-a-Day friends...Happy St. Pat's!

What is GREEN?

There have been many articles written lately on the prospect of being a green company or living a green lifestyle. I have been pondering this very subject ever since I took my Environmental Science class while earning my Business degree some time ago.

Throughout the course, I was horrified and ashamed to discover my everyday habits and actions that were leaving a negative impression on the Earth. Oh, all the batteries and burnt-out light bulbs that I carelessly tossed into the trash can! The years of using chemical-laden 'commercial' bath and laundry soaps....4 years' worth of disposable baby diapers....all the product packaging that could have or should have been recycled! I cried. Seriously.

The positive side of all this is that now I am a better consumer and a much more conscientious jewelry 'manufacturer.' I have researched ways to not only conserve energy but also to reduce the amount of trash my household and business produces.

Though, like many Americans, I struggle with the cost (dollars) of being green, and the (in)convenience. My most recent quandary is paper plates vs. hand washing. On one end I am disposing of paper (which is bought from the store in a plastic bag) in a plastic garbage bag that will end up in a landfill. The more paper I use, the quicker the bag fills and the more plastic garbage bags I use. On the other end I am washing a plate with dish soap (which comes in a plastic bottle) which goes down the drain...and let's not forget all the water I am using. Oh, and the sponge, which harbors bacteria and will eventually be thrown away. Then I will buy a new sponge which comes in plastic wrap or at the very least a cardboard/paper box.

Well, I stopped using sponges and now use those green-colored scrubbies. They tend to last longer than the sponges and dry-out between uses, so the bacteria factor is slightly reduced. The brand that I buy only has a narrow cardboard/paper band around them, so the waste is minimized when I buy new ones. I'm still on the lookout for a more environmentally friendly dish soap, so if you'd like to recommend one, please leave a comment.

I know it's not much, but my hopes that are if everyone made tiny adjustments....it could make a huge difference. My new philosophy/mission is using less creates less (garbage). So I hunt for products with less packaging, shred junk mail (then recycle it!), shop Goodwill, and generally find new uses for 'old' things (raggedy towels become draft dodgers).

While I'm far from being 100% GREEN, I have made many lifestyle changes that will reduce my 'footprint' on the Earth. I just hope that it's not too late...for any of us!

Oh, and my business? I recycle my scrap metals, packaging peanuts, bubble wrap, and cardboard boxes whenever possible. I try to find more natural ways to create my art. For example, I use beeswax as a lubricant instead of petroleum based products. I hope to find even more green solutions in the near future!

If you have more any ideas, suggestions, or examples...leave a comment!