MyGemStoneBox new Etsy store additions; Blog Award and more!

On the left is a new commissioned piece that I have listed in Etsy tonight. It is a family birthstone family pendant wire sculpted in Sterling Silver. Kristina found me on iCraft.ca and contacted me to make this for her.

The small pendant to the right is for my niece, Jahazala, using a gift from a friend in Greece, Ariadne. She is a teacher of English and an avid sea glass collector. She loves the sea, the beach and making things with her hands. I made contact with her on Ning, at a group called sea glass artists. You can visit my page here: http://seaglassartists.ning.com/profile/Diane

Ariadne and I decided to do an exchange of sea glass I found here in RI for pieces she found at her home in Greece. The necklace is a piece of sea-pottery that I wire-sculpted in sterling silver and used the little star fish charm Ariadne used to adorn my package with! It is sweet for my little sweetie!! We are starting her off young… when she comes to visit she goes right for the jewelry…. girl after my heart!

One of my most favorite artists and jewelry friends, Theresa of Studio618 has presented my blog with this lovely award! Thanks so much Stu!! You can see Theresa’s beautiful creations on ArtFire and on Etsy.

Here are the rules for this “One Lovely Blog Award”:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

1 Tashina of Dragonflykey

2 Maryanne of Middle Earth Jewels

3 Mads of Maddies Original Designs

4 Klayfriends, Collectible Jewelry AND Clay

5 Liz of Mad Bush Farm in Australia

6 Jane of Handmade-Jewelry-club

7 The Beading Gems Journal

8 Jamie of Creations by JAE

9 Kim of Creative Eye Studio

10 Ken and Barb of Magpiedreams

11 Mei of Wire Bliss Jewelry

12 Kristie-Lou of Sculpted Windows Jewelry

13 Paulette Mixed Media Artist and Mom

14 Sharon of Magnolia Blossom Art

15 Mary Anne of Starlight Blog

I hope you enjoy taking a look at these wonderful blogs and let the artists know what you think!

Don’t forget to post a comment here as that enters you to win my June giveaway

I've just gotten word that I have been accepted to receive and review Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong!! I'm excited to be able to obtain a copy of her new book hot off the press!! If you are interested in taking a look feel free to follow the link.

Earthy Delites by eSMArts

Wonderful earthy toned collection from eSMArts talented artists

eSMArts Showcase

Best of the best stars on eSMArts Team

Introducing MyGemStoneBox by Diane's monthly jewelry give a way!

Beginning with this entry I’m introducing a new feature for MyGemStoneBox blog~ a monthly give-a-way that you~ my favorite reader~ can win any one of three ways:
1) Leave a post to any one of my entries for the month here on my blog ;
2) Visit my Etsy site at http://www.unicorngem1994.etsy.com/ and pick your favorite piece. Return to my blog and leave an entry telling me your choice;
3) Visit BellaOnline at http://www.bellaonline.com/about/JewelryCollecting let me know what your favorite article is or leave me an idea for a future jewelry collecting article.

That is all there is to it!! A random entry will be chosen and announced during the first week of the following month. Good Luck! April's give a way are these lovely copper and opalite earrings.

New listings this week at Etsy

Princess Aqua and Silver Earrings

Wild and Earthy Necklace

Watch for my upcoming blog entries on S&T Creations, Saundra and Teri, two very special & talented eSMArts Team members and more about our team store!

Natural Celtic Necklace

All about eSMArts

The eSMArts team encompasses a band of talented artisans. I'd like to invite you to visit our team store on Etsy. Here you will find an array of items that are made and donated by our gifted team members- proceeds to go to charity. Check out unique and one-of-a-kind items from necklaces to earrings to raw materials used for creating jewelry among other exceptional items! The spotlight listed above is a taste of the items you will find!

Lois of “A beaded Affair” deserves a nod here. She has the duty of maintaining our team shop and has done a superb job of it!! Lois, we really appreciate your dedication to this project!!

Unlike most other Esty teams, we are a unique lot. We are spread all over the globe using the internet and social marketing venues to connect and sell our wares. We support each other in an assortment of ways; sharing marketing and sales education and information- for both on line and in person selling, blogging support and propagation, shop banners and photography hints and tricks… right down to our weekly chats on Etsy which really build a sense of camaraderie and friendship. We aren’t able to meet face-to-face but we have quite a global network that continues to grow.

We promote each other on a one-to-one level by the institution of a “Blog Buddy Feature” that changes each month. This allows each teammate to focus on one other member and actually get to know that person by featuring a blog post dedicated to that artisan. It is strictly up to the author to decide what items they feature but an artist “Bio” is a must. This helps to promote the art and the artist. The beauty is that it is reciprocated- the author is featured on the artist’s blog! What a fun way to get to know one another!

We have The eSMArts Team Blog that is dedicated to featuring members and their art and accomplishments. I’d like to invite you to visit and learn more about the team.

One last item of importance is our Team Leader, Anna Lee Husband. She is the exceptional artist behind GaHooleTree Jewelry, director, manager and friend. Without her we would not have this wonderful association of trans-global artists finding friendship, solidarity and unity in both learning and teaching each other social marketing of our art and God given talents. Thank you Anna Lee for all you do!! You are a VIP!!

Meet my friend Theresa of Studio618- eSMArts Team!

I'd like you to meet my friend "Stu" or Theresa, of Studio618 specializing in handcrafted jewelry & Judaica Gifts. Her style and designs resounds peace, love, friendship and blessings. I love her clean lines and tasteful creations. I would consider her work and designs "simple yet elegant jewelry" which is a tag line that is near and dear to my heart! Here is more about the great artist in her own words:

"For the past 20+ years, I’ve been working as an architect. My projects range from small residential remodeling to multi-million dollar corporate headquarters and public institutions. After years of being on the more technical side of architecture, watching my designs being built by the construction trades, I longed to use my own hands to create. This gratification comes in the form of jewelry-making. Now I have the best of both worlds, from macro to micro scales, offering design and technical challenges that keep me up at night.

I joined the Etsy artisan community in the mid 2008, and it opened a whole new experience to me. The benefits of buying from independent handmade artists are tremendous. Since marketing is not my strength, I joined one of the Etsy teams - Etsy Social Marketing Arts Guild. The goal of this team is “further understanding and applying eCommerce advertising and promotion techniques.” Our members consist of artisans across the globe, working with all art medium.

My jewelry is available through the team shop (http://esmarts.etsy.com/), at local art shows and through my online store (http://studio618.etsy.com/) under the name Studio 618. My blog (http://studio618.blogspot.com/) reflects my creations, my various interests, issues important to me, and much more. So come on by, say hello, and let me know what you think."

Stop in and say hello to "Stu" and tell her I sent you!! Enjoy this truly talented artist.

Social Marketing- for those of us selling on line!!

In the most simplistic terms Social Marketing is very much like going out and making friends. You visit different venues and make contacts (friends) and interact with them… talk (chat, email, leave comments etc.), find common interests and truly get to know them. During this process you introduce them to your business. This is also referred to a “soft sell”. You mention the new piece you are designing or the new order you received and before you know it you are discussing your business! Sounds easy right? Well, it is and it isn’t. We need to dedicate time each day to building these relationships just like “real life”. We can’t have friends and not spend time with them; right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t call them friends!

Here are a variety of ways to accomplish social interaction on the web:
Blogging or mini-blogs: We write about ourselves and our business usually on a set schedule… our readers begin to expect to see something new on a regular basis. We develop a following of readers who get to know us through this process and hopefully we build and cultivate a rapport with them. These new friends become a source for sales. This is done through commenting on the different posts. Sites like Blogger and Wordpress make it easy for us to establish a blog. Sites like “Ning” are set up for mini-blogs arranged in communities. There are sites that we can join that are communities for blogs and attract specific types of readers.

Writing “expert” pieces on topics relating to our business is another way to social market our stores. There are sites established to help us do just this. Squidoo, Hubpages, OpenZine are just a few. Each is set up a bit differently but they all have help along the way. With a little effort we can be published and searchable on the web! Searches are based on the key tag words we use and the content we post. Another way to get published is to write articles for a favorite magazine or websites. Write and submit them on a regular basis. I’m testing out being a volunteer Editor for a woman’s site called BellaOnline where I write articles on Jewelry Collecting and interact with readers through a forum there. There are many ways to become published.

Join social sites like MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, & Flickr. Each has it’s own benefit but the idea is the same… it is an interface we can use to meet new people on a personal or professional level and share information about ourselves including pictures, video, writing, chatting and yes even having fun all the while turning those new friendships into a source for sales.

Esmarts Team members I have posted additional information to the Yahoo forum in a document called “Social Marketing Portfolio”. Please take sometime and review it to find links to all the sites I have listed here and more. I’m available to answer questions and help you along your social marketing journey.

Diane Geisel
Social Marketing Director for eSMArts

The new bracelet at the top of this post is for SPRING...soon to be added to my Etsy store!!

Esmarts Team Challenge and BellaOnline

Jamie, our Esmarts Marketing manager has polled our team and asked what we would like to do for a springtime/Easter challenge? Here were our choices:

Butterflies butterflies and more butterflies! Use butterflies in some form in your project! 25%

Pastels! Pink, green, baby blue, yellow, all the great colors of the spring! Base your project on those pastel shades for something beautiful! 66%

Babies. Who doesn't love a baby? Tie babies (human, furry, feathery, whatever) into your chosen project. 8%

When we tallied up the results it was clearly pastels. We could design anything we wanted as long as we used pretty pastel colors. Here is what I came up with. I posted it tonight to my shop. Candy jade in pink and green with pearls and pastel pink and green Swarovski opaque crystals all wrapped up with sterling silver. Thanks Jamie for coordinating this fun team event and I can't wait to see who wins~ all those great entries....It's going to be tough to decide....

Here is an update on my BellaOnline training.... I am set to graduate this Tuesday!! Yes I have managed a 97% on the quizzes and have kept up the required articles even during the Christmas and New Years holidays. I have been given moderator status for the Jewelry Collecting forum and continue to shape the site based on visitor feedback. If you have not already signed up for my newsletter here is the link to do so! http://www.bellaonline.com/about/JewelryCollecting
Scroll all the way to the bottom. You can also find this link on the bottom of any article I have written.

BellaOnline has a very strict policy regarding spam and keeping your email addresses private. The editors can not even see them! They never sell or trade this information and take your privacy seriously. So.... sign up to keep up to date on all the newest information.

Thanks to all those who visit me there!!

Winter in New England, eSMArts Team update and new earrings for Christmas

Ok, I am a life long New Englander..born and raised in Rhode Island. Snow should be no big deal...right? I'm already sick of it.... This pic was taken on Friday afternoon. The storm started out about 2pm and quickly progressed. We really didn't have the howling winds that are usually associated with these storms but none the less it packed a punch. It snowed all day Saturday...tapered of Saturday night and right back at it come Sunday.

Are you cold yet just looking at these... yes, it does look lovely....yes even Christmassy

Try shoveling!

Moving on.... given the seasonal rush is subsiding our attention turns to Valentines Day. Yes... already. We are all working on our creations to get our Etsy stores stocked with those special "I love you" gifts. Keep a look out for them coming soon. During this time as the new year fast approaches, we are also in the midst of reorganizing our team. New minimum requirements are being established... all good stuff that will make us more effective with our Marketing initiatives both on line and off. I'm looking forward to seeing us progress this year and become stronger as a team. I want to extend a sincere congratulations to Jamie Elliot of Creations by JAE who is our new Marketing Manager and Membership Coordinator and Helene Turnbull of Glass0Beads who will be serving as our Editor-in-Chief and our Website Manager. Good luck to you both in your new roles with eSMArts!

What to give a special friend (and hair stylist) yes.... very important person!! Johna is a great friend and I wanted to do something a little different for her. Her birthday is in February so incorporated some lovely amethyst faceted rounds at the center and crocheted from sterling silver the outside of these earrings. I'll have to make a few more for the store! I hope she likes them.

One more pic for you:

Brrrr....

My First Bulk Buy- Esmarts Team

Thank you Dani!!

Danis Garcia runs the Yahoo Group JSBulk Buy . This group was brought together to bring the best quality stones and findings at the lowest prices to designers and retailers. Take a look at what my first buy landed me!

I am so excited that I gave this a try...all the lovely creations that are begging to be made from these lovely gems. Garnets, Flourite, Amethyst, Black Onyx, Smokey Quartz, Tiger Eye, Carnelian, Tourmalinated Quartz, Silver Leaf, Botswana Agate, Moss Agate, Candy Jade, African Jade, Amazonite, Dumortierite, and Lapis.

Besides running this group Dani is also a member of eSMArts Team on Etsy. The Etsy Social Marketing Arts Guild (eSMArts Guild) is a global collaborative of mixed media artisans intent on further understanding and applying eCommerce advertising and promotion techniques. If you are an Estian and interested in joining an active team feel free to visit.

Here are more items from that purchase- Sea glass beads in various colors and lovely Bali style silver beads and spacers.
Here is how to contact Dani:
DG Designs, Custom jewelry
Gems, Stones, Jewelry Supply
Danis Garcia - Blog
DGDesignsTx - Etsy Store
Texas Artisans Promotions

Esmarts Team: Wilma's Blueberry Swirl Bracelet and Earrings by MyGemStoneBox by Diane

Just listed today in my Esty Store are these wire wrapped pieces I've taken these lovely lampwork glass beads created by Wilma Whimsey's , fellow eSMArts team member and mix them with AB Swarovski crystals and silver. I finished off the clasp with a tear drop lavendar faceted chalcedony and 2 amethysts, both teardrop and faceted as well.

Let me tell you a little bit about the artist that created these lovely beads. Wilma Travis of "Wilma Whimsey's" is a single mom of three wonderful children and 2 delightful grandchildren. Her oldest son is engaged to be married and will do so in May of 2009. She has a handicapped young adult (27), her youngest son who still lives with her. She was originally from New York, born and raised there. I moved to MN in 1994 and I love she loves it there.

Wilma has been working with glass for several years. She began her journey with stained glass until begining Lampwork in June of 2005.
Here is how you can see more of her lovely work:
Wilma's Etsy Store
Wilma's Whimsey's Website
Wilma's Blog

Egyptian Facets Bracelet new on Etsy, The Foundry and eSMArts team store

This is the third piece in my "Daydream Facets" Collection.

Veil Nebula Bracelet is the first, Faceted Fantasy is the second and both are still available here on Etsy. This piece features a large 27 x 19 mm Brazilian cherry flame quartz gem surrounded by lovely copper... in three colors~ gold, silver and natural. The wire design is called Egyptian mystery and has been used in jewelry for centuries. The gems used for accents on this piece are round faceted cherry quartz and Opalite faceted rondelles.

I was scheduled to do a show yesterday at a local school, but I was not feeling well and had to cancel. I've done this show for the last two years and it was "my first ever show". I learned a lot from it but I'm working on getting into "bigger and better" venues. One I am exploring is a local show called "The Foundry" held by The Foundry Artists Association held the Pawtucket Armory 172 Exchange StreetPawtucket, RI 02860

Friday, December 5th, 12-8pm

Saturday, December 6th, 10-6pm

Sunday, December 7th, 10-6pm

Thursday, December 11th, 12-8pm

Friday, December 12th, 12-8pm

Saturday, December 13th, 10-6pm

Sunday, December 14th, 10-6pm

Local RI Esty artist Kim Vredenburg is featuring her wonderful glass lampwork beads (I've used them in my Celtic Carrousel Earrings) Best of luck Kim!!

Don't forget to visit our eSMArts team store! Many great items still available for Christmas giving. All proceeds from the sales of these items go to replace one of our team members stolen computer.

The items in our shop are donated by the caring and wonderful members of eSMARts towards that end.

Swarovski, Anna McCabe Craft Fair and eSMArts Team store

I've published another hub on Hubpages with information on Swarovski crystals and the fourth generation family run business that brings us outstanding jewelry findings and collectible figures. Please take a look
http://hubpages.com/hub/Swarovski-Crystal-in-all-its-facets

Here is my "Fruity Bracelet" sporting those lovely Swarovski's all around!

For those who are local, I’m inviting you to visit me at the Jingle-Bell Craft fair on December 6th at Anna McCabe School on 100 Pleasant View Ave. in Smithfield RI. The bazaar will be open from 9-3pm, Santa will be visiting, food and refreshments will be available. Come join the festivities – share the holiday spirit and do some Christmas shopping!
The eSMArts Team Store is celebrating its first sale~~ Last Sunday we sold our first item. Please check out the store and check out the items I have listed and hope to sell to help a worthy cause....








Cobalt and Flowers Earrings &
Nebula Bracelet first in the "Faceted Daydream Collection" by Diane

Wishing you all a blessed THANKSGIVING!

eSMArts Team: Getting ready for the holidays and New to my Etsy store...November birthstone-Citrine earrings

Christmas tree ornament or suncatcher from MyGemStoneBox by Diane available at our eSMArts Team store. This makes a great gift for teachers, friends and family. Made with silver wire and Cathedral crystal and gold beads, amber crackle, amber AB beads and gold bugle beads. Finishing touches are pearls to complete the look. Beads are 4mm, 6mm & 8mm. Approx. size of each snowflake is 5" x 5".

I have others soon to be added! Also, listing at my Etsy shop done in red and crystal!
I am offering free wrapping on all items purchased from now until Christmas! One less gift you have to wrap! Good deal and FREE!

Here is another I have just completed it is all pastel pink and green crackle beads with gold bugle beads and Cathedral crystal beads and a few Czech square beads. I have not listed it yet! Enjoy the preview. If you are interested please feel free to contact MyGemStoneBox by Diane!

Lemon drop slide earrings

These lovely faceted citrine brioletts are suspended using sterling silver wire to sterling silver slide earring chains. Earrings measure approx 3 1/2" long but when inserted into the ear you can choose the length of the dangle. The citrine stones measure 12 x 9 mm each.Citrine is a yellow-to-golden member of the quartz mineral group. A deep golden variety from Madeira Spain can resemble the costly imperial topaz gem stone, which is one reason that citrine is a popular birthstone alternative to those born in November.