Iolite Gemstone Earrings & A New Beading Project

Thank you to my dear friend Anna Lee for these wonderful iolite gemstones that look amazing wrapped in silver. The color blue is very much like periwinkle with flashes of violet. They sparkle and shine thanks to the exceptional faceting.

Ancient mariners used iolite as a compass to guide their way to sea. They noted that it would show different hues of blue-violet when held to the northern and southern skies. Ancients believed that it could unlock creativity in an artist.

Iolite clears the third eye chakra. It is a stone of vision and creative expression. Iolite is especially compatible with amethyst and lapis.

This is my first attempt with beading the ladder stitch. I’ve chosen a lovely purple glass pearl along with a traditional white glass pearl and Aurora Borealis or "AB" Swarovski crystal bicones. The AB coating is iridescent, & gives a pale rainbow effect with blue and pink highlights. The colors work wonderfully together.

These new pieces will be added to Etsy and ArtFire in the very near future!

Here is the newest addition to my Bonanzle store. I really love this piece and have worn it as a pendant. It almost could be a flower or a snowflake…. just a wonderful brooch.

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!!

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

How much fun was this...RI seaside treasure hunt!!

Richard....my son, Fred...my hubby and I went on a treasure hunt on Friday. I have been reading about sea glass and researching the beautiful jewelry made with these gems from the sea. I talked them into coming with me on my adventure.... let's see what we can find! Rich was not to excited about the whole thing... he loves the beach as do I, but summer time is his thing. He loves to skim-board and body surf. Going to the beach on a day that got to a high of about 40 deg. was not on his favorite "to do" list for sure. My dh just went with it....

Here are the fruits of our labor... we walked and talked and found a few interesting items. The large piece of green/black glass was found by Rich...he was soooo excited. Funny, just a few minutes before he seemed like he really would rather have stayed home! My dh found the aqua piece...what a lovely color.

We also came upon some pottery shards..... this was my "find of the day". Definitely looks old to me... the ware or patina of the surface indicates that it has been around for quite a while. I have a vase that belonged to my maternal grandmother that has the same type of age or wear on the surface and I know that to be at least 100 years old.

We enjoyed some together time as a family and had fun seeing what we could find. Upon leaving all I heard from the 15 year old was .... when are we coming back??!!

Here is what "Mom" made with one of the finds....

I'll be listing soon on my Etsy site.

This piece of sea glass found in upper Narragansette bay in Warwick RI has a wonderful patina and is all wrapped up in sterling silver.

Etsy a How-To Guide and "The Veil Nebula"

Fellow eSMArt'ers and Estian's, here is a tasty tidbit! The Etsy Seller Handbook: All Our How-Tos about Selling

Here you'll find a handy index of all the useful How-Tos about Selling on Etsy. They are calling it the Seller Handbook. They will be adding all new how-tos for sellers to this index.

Look for sections on Your Shop 101: How-Tos for Getting Started on Etsy, Photography How-Tos, Alchemy and Custom/Reserved Listing How-Tos, Shipping How-Tos, Advertising How-Tos, Business and Pricing How-Tos, Promoting & Marketing How-Tos, Craft Show & Events How-Tos Blogging, Podcasting & Video-making How-Tos, Legal Info for Artists, Tagging How-Tos, Team Tips, All about Etsy & Site Features.

Dig in and enjoy!!!

Veil Nebula Bracelet.... this is what is new at my Etsy shop this week:

This substantial wire wrapped bracelet in copper and sterling silver has all the colors in the nebula. Green faceted quartz briolettes matched with rondelle’s of aquamarine and rose, along side the smooth crackle quartz in purple and aqua are the base of this bracelet. Add a sprinkle of Swarovski crystals in topaz yellow, ruby red and tourmaline pink for sparkle. Finished off with faceted rondelle’s of yellow jade, faceted briolettes of chalcedony and garnet and a lovely faceted yellow citrine gemstone. Finishing touches of silver and copper findings accent this couture look.

Here is what the Veil Nebula looks like from the Hubble telescope:

Astronomy is near and dear to my heart along with meteorology and physiology.

Strawberries and cream dangle earrings and Marketing tips!

New to my Etsy shop this week are these lovely dangle earrings. These pink topaz beads are expertly faceted in India, and so sparkly! They are uniform in size, each measuring about 8mm wide and are the centerpiece of these fabulous earrings. Heart shaped and wirewrapped in sterling silver they are suspended from hand-fashioned ear wires that are lightly hammered sterling silver. Finished off with two freshwater pearls one on each side.These are so pretty and versatile they can be worn for any special occasion, including that special wedding day or everyday with jeans and a T.These earrings measure 3 1/8"(8cm) from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the pink topaz bead.

Marketing tip:
Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually "in the know" and can help you get started in networking in your community!

Silver Byzantine Rose Design

Although I think my favorite medium is wire sculpting I do love chain maille. This necklace is part of a 3 piece set I posted at Etsy today. I have the bracelet and earrings to match. It took me about 3 evenings to assemble the necklace and an additional evening to put the bracelet and earrings together. For those that have not attempted the Byzantine pattern, it is quite easy once you get the hang of it and it flows quite nicely.


Marketing tip:

If you design and make jewelry to sell to brides and bridal parties consider contacting local area bridal supply stores, bridal gown stores, caterers, tux rental centers, wedding DJ's etc. Ask them if you can leave your business cards & fliers about the great (Company Name) Bridal Gift Registry for them to give to their customers. Offer store owners a free gift or a personal discount for helping you spread the word about your business!

Update on Heanaite

It came out so pretty.... This was from an earlier blog post. A co-worker got this Heanaite stone and asked me to wrap it for her. I just love it~hope she does too!