tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72816794797414990832024-03-14T03:14:07.236-07:00FreakyJewelry4UFreaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-81613141208150830192013-08-28T22:34:00.002-07:002013-08-29T07:39:39.110-07:00Want to Write Better Copy for Your Online Shop? Let a Seasoned Ad Exec Help You Out<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsUtWZvfIOQ/Uh7dJcH-5kI/AAAAAAAAAN0/6TZMI9JUGvI/s1600/DSC_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsUtWZvfIOQ/Uh7dJcH-5kI/AAAAAAAAAN0/6TZMI9JUGvI/s320/DSC_0322.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This has nothing to do with the topic - I just like these earrings!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You might have noticed that I've changed the look of my
blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years I clung to the
white-type-on-black-background look, which I find sexy and intriguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m reading a book that’s changing
the way I present my jewelry and my blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CA-HVERTISING-Ad-Agency-Psychology-ebook/dp/B002AP9GRG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377752384&sr=1-1">Ca$hvertising</a></i> by
Drew Eric Whitman (published 2008), reversing text (white letters on a black
background) is a no-no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently it’s
harder to read, and he cites research supporting this. (Reversing text slows down reading speed and frustrates the reader.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I zeroed in on his advice and decided to test it on my blog, hence
the new format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CA-HVERTISING-Ad-Agency-Psychology-ebook/dp/B002AP9GRG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377752384&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ca$hvertising</span></a></i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> is a
goldmine for any online retailer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It offers
suggestions on such things as fonts (choose one with serifs, such as Times New
Roman or Arial) and how to format headlines (initial caps). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the guidelines on how to write
advertising copy particularly valuable – they made me laugh and look carefully
at how I was presenting my jewelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prior to now I’d never thought how I described my items made that much
difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an experiment, I focused
on one item I was selling in my shop and described it as carefully and
enticingly as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was astonished
when I sold it for full asking price, almost immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A lot of his advice is not obvious – you could be sabotaging
your efforts in any number of ways without realizing it, and your friends and
clients won’t be able to tell you what you’re doing wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let a seasoned ad exec help you out.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-88303034987479735122013-08-27T00:13:00.000-07:002013-08-29T07:44:35.246-07:00Here's Something Obnoxious to Make With Your Pandora Beads<br />
Are you bored with just rearranging your Pandora (or European) beads on your bracelet? Here's a bizarre project, guaranteed to annoy all of your friends. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBvHrobDntU/UhxOrHy3kmI/AAAAAAAAAMs/6ry3RamTW0w/s1600/100_3711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBvHrobDntU/UhxOrHy3kmI/AAAAAAAAAMs/6ry3RamTW0w/s320/100_3711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am using aluminum wire and chain here, which is easily marred by sharp metal, so I am using nylon-tipped pliers so I don't scratch the surfaces. The great thing about aluminum wire is that you can bend it with your hands, although loops are best made with round-nose pliers for accuracy. <br />
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<u><b>What you'll need:</b></u><br />
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<ul>
<li>Flat-nose pliers (nylon tipped)</li>
<li>Round-nose pliers (nylon tipped)</li>
<li>Wire cutter</li>
<li>Two six-inch pieces of large aluminum chain (the chain pictured has 13mm x 9mm links, approximately)</li>
<li>30 inches of 12 gauge aluminum wire, cut into twelve 2 ½ inch pieces</li>
<li>One big clasp (this one is an inch long, but it doesn't have to be that large)</li>
<li>Ten Pandora (or European-style) beads -- anything with a metal core is fine</li>
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You can get all of this stuff at <a href="http://firemountaingems.com/">Fire Mountain Gems</a>. They'll hook you up. </div>
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What to do:</div>
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<li>Loop beads onto ten pieces of wire, using the simple loop method. Loop the two remaining pieces of wire into loops without beads. If you need a tutorial on looping, here's a good one: <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/beading_projects.asp?docid=691E&kwsearch=kwjmwwvid&doccat=video+tutorials">http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/beading_projects.asp?docid=691E&kwsearch=kwjmwwvid&doccat=video+tutorials</a></li>
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2. And then you'll have this: </div>
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3. Twist open a link from side to side, link it up with another link (you can do this with your hands, if you want) and keep on going until everything's linked, like this:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fn_RsbTYE0w/UhxPxNJBXgI/AAAAAAAAANM/6Vo7G6kIjLc/s1600/DSC_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fn_RsbTYE0w/UhxPxNJBXgI/AAAAAAAAANM/6Vo7G6kIjLc/s320/DSC_0356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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4. Open the link on the end and hook it onto one of the pieces of chain. Do the same thing with the other piece of chain. Then you'll have this:</div>
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5. Take one of "bead-less loops," open it and attach it to the other end of the chain. Take the other "bead-less loop," open it and attach it to the end of the other piece of chain. Then open the other end of one of the "bead-less loops," link on the clasp and close it. </div>
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6. That's pretty much it -- the clasp will link onto the other end of the loop, closing like this:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z8jsT3o_PGg/UhxQIMPvx0I/AAAAAAAAANc/XIGUS65sGvA/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z8jsT3o_PGg/UhxQIMPvx0I/AAAAAAAAANc/XIGUS65sGvA/s320/DSC_0358.JPG" width="241" /></a></div>
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TA-DA !!</div>
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The total length of the necklace is about 28 inches. (If you want it shorter, either shorten the chain or use less beads.) </div>
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Thanks for checking out my silly post. The best thing about this necklace is that when you show it to your friends, they'll get red in the face and scream, "NO, NO, NO !!! THAT IS <b><i>NOT</i> </b>WHAT YOU DO WITH PANDORA BEADS!" And then you can fake a shocked expression and say, "WHAT?!!! YOU'RE KIDDING!"</div>
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Have a great week, and keep on beading. </div>
Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-21612426264357012532013-08-15T23:57:00.001-07:002013-08-15T23:57:36.654-07:00Coco Chanel is Flipping Over in Her Grave ...Here's something inspired by Coco Chanel's legendary chain necklaces:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPAcdPlh3v4/Ug3Md9MGBdI/AAAAAAAAAMM/USE479--FbQ/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPAcdPlh3v4/Ug3Md9MGBdI/AAAAAAAAAMM/USE479--FbQ/s320/DSC_0349.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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I wanted to give it a more "tech" look, so I used aluminum chain in two different colors (gunmetal/black). The links feature Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. And here's a photo of the back:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8QC_PxxasRk/Ug3M8zw-HvI/AAAAAAAAAMU/c1lwIL7R7xI/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8QC_PxxasRk/Ug3M8zw-HvI/AAAAAAAAAMU/c1lwIL7R7xI/s320/DSC_0351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the matching earrings:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouWVZWZgM90/Ug3NGa0UDqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/YeqF-SRh9eM/s1600/DSC_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouWVZWZgM90/Ug3NGa0UDqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/YeqF-SRh9eM/s320/DSC_0348.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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That's about it for now. Have a good weekend, okay? Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-28277508150365719572013-08-08T01:28:00.002-07:002013-08-08T01:28:59.705-07:00Steampunk Jewelry Findings I just found the most amazing shop on eBay with steampunk jewelry findings, many of them vintage. The name of the shop is "Ferrera Unusual Art Supplies," and the link to the shop is <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/ferreraunusualartsupplies">http://stores.ebay.com/ferreraunusualartsupplies</a>. Here's some of the great stuff I found:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--otURwKEjb8/UgNURXUWZGI/AAAAAAAAALo/qI1v6JlGVPU/s1600/Steampunk+whistle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--otURwKEjb8/UgNURXUWZGI/AAAAAAAAALo/qI1v6JlGVPU/s320/Steampunk+whistle.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a vintage English Bobby Whistle, and isn't it lovely? If you have to sound a shrill cry for help while walking down a dark alley, wouldn't you rather sound it in style? This one has a dual tone and is unfinished, so it can be made into a pendant.<br />
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Here's another find:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEtYZihKWBw/UgNVVYZsjHI/AAAAAAAAAL0/nQSht4kexYQ/s1600/Steampunk+chain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEtYZihKWBw/UgNVVYZsjHI/AAAAAAAAAL0/nQSht4kexYQ/s320/Steampunk+chain.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This has to be some of the coolest chain I have ever seen. Solid brass oval link chain, and vintage as well. They sell this in bulk, by the way -- you'll have to add your own clasp, et cetera.<br />
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Okay, last photo:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDKbohlVJak/UgNWEpG3A1I/AAAAAAAAAL8/uLhfrjBGVcU/s1600/Vintage+corrugated+drop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDKbohlVJak/UgNWEpG3A1I/AAAAAAAAAL8/uLhfrjBGVcU/s320/Vintage+corrugated+drop.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These would look great on a necklace. Speaking of which, this shop also has a nice collection of finished bracelets and rings. Definitely worth checking out.<br />
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Thanks, and have a great day!Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-84033736600467586062013-08-05T00:02:00.003-07:002013-08-05T00:03:51.052-07:00Photographing Jewelry (or how to drive yourself insane)I just launched two more items on Etsy, which necessitated my photographing them first. I set up my tiny little studio, mounted my camera on its tripod, hooked up the shutter release, positioned the studio lights and hoped for the best. I was doing okay until I had to shoot the earrings, which is always a chore. I tried shooting them by laying them flat on a slight incline, with my camera pointing down, almost directly over them. This was trying, as the earrings would often slide down the incline. (Again and again.) <br />
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I recently checked out an article on how to shoot jewelry, which suggested hanging the earrings from a thread. I thought this would be great for my skull earrings, which are suited to bizarre display. This is what I ended up with:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1Qopd4HOGA/Uf9LlBNUBMI/AAAAAAAAALE/lUd0q_AsRbs/s1600/DSC_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1Qopd4HOGA/Uf9LlBNUBMI/AAAAAAAAALE/lUd0q_AsRbs/s320/DSC_0339.JPG" width="287" /></a></div>
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You can see the thread, which is not great, but this is my first attempt and I decided to go with it. This is a useful technique because it eliminates distracting detail in the background.<br />
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Another technique I read about, and would love to try, is to position jewelry on highly-reflective sheets of black lucite. It creates a sumptuous shadow that emphasizes the lines of the piece. This is next on my list!<br />
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Here is the matching necklace for the earrings, my latest piece of skull jewelry:<br />
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I like to be as original as possible when shooting my jewelry, but the reason everyone uses these techniques is because they're ridiculously effective. So at least for now, I'm following suit.<br />
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Have a great week!Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-20389679083313431082013-07-30T22:07:00.000-07:002013-07-30T22:40:57.132-07:00My Latest Addiction: 24-Gauge Aluminum Wire with Freshwater PearlsHere's a photo for you:<br />
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(Maybe I should call this post "screwing around with my Kodak Easyshare camera.") Here's another one, which I kind of like even though it's horribly out of focus:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfjjkObH18c/UfiXwR2Wh7I/AAAAAAAAAKs/wdBV_hbNMRs/s1600/100_3701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfjjkObH18c/UfiXwR2Wh7I/AAAAAAAAAKs/wdBV_hbNMRs/s320/100_3701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It looks very "other-worldly" -- kind of like a glowing cauldron or a magical circle. A session with my pliers and a lot of swearing produces this (which was NOT taken with the Kodak Easyshare):<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jxNKc6RTHg/UfiYJ1n1vaI/AAAAAAAAAK0/YaWpgRKmTBs/s1600/DSC_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jxNKc6RTHg/UfiYJ1n1vaI/AAAAAAAAAK0/YaWpgRKmTBs/s320/DSC_0301.JPG" width="259" /></a></div>
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(This is copper-colored aluminum wire, by the way.) I resisted using aluminum wire for a long time, mostly from snobbery. I preferred gold and silver wire ... It took me awhile to make the transition, but once I did I was hopelessly hooked. Aluminum wire is easier to bend, so it can be worked by hand with the occasional use of pliers for the sharper angles and curves. It's especially great with baroque pearls, such as the ones pictured above, which are irregularly shaped and sometimes challenging to wrap. And it comes in amazing colors, which I find much more interesting than just gold and silver. <br />
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The paint finish on aluminum wire is easy to mar with sharp metal objects, so I use plastic-coated pliers so it doesn't get too banged up. (I have a separate set of pliers just for this purpose.)<br />
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Anyway, give aluminum wire a try. You won't regret it. Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-80566958364907004172013-04-24T21:33:00.003-07:002013-04-24T21:37:03.034-07:00Tarot Art and Steampunk Accessories, Courtesy of Jintrinsique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My creative friends inspire and encourage me all the time. My friend Jen (a.k.a. “Jin”) likes to make
art from Tarot cards, such as plaques and magnets, embellishing them with beads,
gold paint and other magical things.
Jen, who is an accomplished pastry chef, closed her pastry shop to move
across the country to be with her boyfriend (now husband), and she creates
food and art with him in sunny Florida. Here is one of her Tarot-inspired plaques.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jen and her husband were recently married at the Florida
Botanical Gardens, with a steady stream of rain for good luck. She wore steampunk jewelry she made herself.<br />
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… and a jaunty steampunk hat. The hat led her to create her own steampunk
hats, and here are two of them. They have already been featured in a fashion show, and elicit praise and excitement wherever they appear. What I love about Jen’s hats are the lush combinations of colors, textures and patterns:<br />
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can check out more of Jen’s Tarot-inspired art at her Etsy shop,
Jintrinsique: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jintrinsique?ref=pr_shop_more">https://www.etsy.com/shop/jintrinsique?ref=pr_shop_more</a><o:p></o:p><br />
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Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-35325030356520455682013-04-18T21:44:00.001-07:002013-04-18T21:44:35.650-07:00My Musical JewelrySome of my bling actually makes a kind of music. For the past year or so, I have been designing jewelry from metal connector links, and it really is fun. When I hang the links close together, the necklaces make this sort of gentle clinking sound that is soothing. Here are some examples:<br />
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Have a great weekend !!!<br />
Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-72945996825638464332013-04-17T22:43:00.000-07:002013-04-17T22:43:09.563-07:00Recycling and JewelryI love the idea of recycling, and I try to incorporate recycled elements into my jewelry whenever possible (i.e., the floppy disk hubs). The African beads in these necklaces are made from recycled brass, using the lost wax process. It is an arduous procedure that involves destroying the mold to retrieve the newly created bead:<br />
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Here's another necklace made from African beads:<br />
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The crimson beads are made from faceted carnelian, which is about as fancy as I get ... with tangerine gold aluminum chain. And the patterned beads are wood.<br />
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In this era when we are told to constantly grasp for more, maybe what we really need to do is transform what we already have; to make it new and fresh. Just a thought.Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-30638415864061216112013-03-07T22:07:00.001-08:002013-03-07T22:07:29.015-08:00Here I am again. I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging. The beginning of a year is always challenging for me, filled with activity. I hope you're having a better time of it than I am.<br />
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Anyway, this seems like a good time to mention my floppy disk jewelry. About a year ago, a coworker gave me a pile of old floppy disks and asked me to destroy them. I asked her if I could have the hubs for making jewelry, and she said yes. For a year now, I have been cleaning, painting, hammering and gluing stuff onto floppy disks, but it wasn't until a month or so ago that I had anything to show for it. Here's where I am right now:<br />
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This has been a tough project. I didn't realize when I began it that floppy disk hubs are made with industrial-grade stainless steel. They are not intended for exposure to the elements, so they have to be painted or sealed in some manner to keep them from rusting. I chose to paint them with an acrylic-based paint.<br />
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This necklace is made of floppy disk hubs, black aluminum chain and Swarovski crystals.<br />
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As I mentioned, I have other plans for the floppies as well. This is an ongoing obsession. So expect to see more of this stuff.<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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<br />Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-5148841458378575332012-12-13T00:03:00.000-08:002012-12-13T00:03:37.628-08:00An Extremely Freaky Chain Necklace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I warned you. This necklace has a little extra "freak" built into it. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">When I first started this project, I was very inspired by the great bib necklaces that were everywhere. I had intended the black aluminum chain to lend a slightly "goth" element to it, although I must admit that the Swarovski crystals are a little too sweet for a hard-line goth. Oh well. But that was my starting point. The lowest circular link in this necklace likes to move around a bit -- sometimes it goes horizontal, although most often vertical. It's kind of cool and kind of disturbing. I would like to continue with this concept, and one of these days I plan on making a bib necklace that dangles closer to the cleavage area. </span>Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-71886466610212732222012-12-10T22:36:00.000-08:002012-12-10T22:36:03.674-08:00Curb Chain's Sweeter, Sexier Side<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">I have wanted to make jewelry with REALLY BIG CHAIN for some time. About six years ago I bought a length of stainless steel chain at the hardware store and tried to make some jewelry with it. It was pointless -- it was too heavy and I couldn't find a clasp that could stand up to it. About a year ago I discovered aluminum curb chain, which to me is a dream come true -- this chain in particular is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">very large -- 14mm x 10mm --</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> yet extremely light. I dig the whole "combining high with low" concept, so I enjoyed wire-wrapping it with</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">peach freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and silver (zinc alloy) beads.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">The chain has a gunmetal finish and is 20 inches long, with a pewter toggle clasp. This is another necklace that I can say was inspired by my nieces, who have taught me to always have fun, no matter what. Particularly with my jewelry!</span><br />
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Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-69909687890204652792012-12-09T10:49:00.000-08:002012-12-13T00:06:58.336-08:00Hey there. Hope you're all out there having a stellar weekend! <br />
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As promised, here is another chain necklace, which features pewter, faceted black agate and black Swarovski crystal links. It is<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> 22 1/2 inches long and has a pewter toggle clasp. I wanted to make something that really delivered, in terms of visual candy, so the links are of varying shapes and sizes, with the agate beads as a counterpoint. This is a further development to my ongoing obsession: "I love chains. What is a chain? What could a chain be? What actually constitutes a chain? What could I conceivably sequence in on a chain with or without looking ridiculous? How about dreams? Goals? Cans of tuna fish?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Does your brain hurt yet? Mine does. I'll see you again tomorrow. Be safe. Be happy. Thank you.</span><br />
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Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-91229434178993050872012-12-08T01:52:00.002-08:002012-12-13T00:06:11.485-08:00Chain necklacesI love a really nice chain necklace, and this love affair has prevailed for a good thirty years now. I can remember the moment it began -- I was admiring a beautiful chain necklace a friend was wearing, and she said, airily, "oh, all of my artist friends notice this." I think at that point I realized that I had strong visual ties to my environment. <br />
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I have recently decided to revisit my great love of chain jewelry, and here's an example for you (front and back of the same piece). The gemstone is blue agate: <br />
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One of the benefits of making a huge, honking chain is that it can really stand up to huge, honking pendants! The coil connectors are made from 14-gauge black aluminum chain, alternating with pewter connectors. Expect more of these ...<br />
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Have a great weekend!Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-12275219042897712212012-12-06T22:57:00.002-08:002012-12-13T00:05:55.987-08:00My Latest ObsessionA few months ago I discovered African beads, and my life has never been the same. I am particularly enamored of brass beads from Ghana, which are made from the lost wax process. Here's a recent necklace I made from Ghana beads:<br />
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This is by no means a traditional arrangement -- these types of beads are typically paired with colorful beads with lively patterns, and are strung, not wire-wrapped. So consider this a type of Afro-American fusion, I guess. Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281679479741499083.post-86001701561677602962012-09-23T23:54:00.000-07:002012-09-23T23:55:06.349-07:00Sorry I disappearedHello again, and apologies for the long hiatus. I was busy raising my family and making jewelry, of course. I'm looking forward to hearing what you've all been up to for the last three years -- your accomplishments, survival stories -- anything you got. And I will try not to disappear for so long this time. <br />
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So I have something new to report -- I have fallen in love with Pandora jewelry (and imitation Pandora jewelry). Over the summer I got together with my nieces, my Mom, sisters, nephews, a boyfriend of a niece and a few friends to assemble <i>faux</i> Pandora watches and bracelets. Prior to then, I had thought that the Pandora concept was a little silly (not to mention expensive). Well, I am singing a new tune now, as they say. Here's a watch I assembled over the summer:<br />
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It is impossible to describe the feeling of opulence and grandeur that a Pandora piece, real or <i>faux</i>, conveys upon the wearer. I found myself looking benignly at my hand, waving it in dramatic flourishes, and feeling very glamorous indeed. I chose black as my theme because I wear lots of black, particularly at work. So black seemed like the obvious choice. <br />
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Pandora starter chains cost about $65 for sterling silver and $1,400 for the 14K gold version. You can get a starter watch like the one I'm wearing on eBay for about $5 or so. (It's not sterling silver, as you might have guessed, but I'm not snobby about that kind of thing.) The bracelets and watches have clasp ends that easily screw off and on so you can add or subtract beads. It's a wonderful modular solution to synching your jewelry up with your wardrobe, and I wish I'd thought of it first. <br />
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That's it for now. Till next time.<br />
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<br />Freaky Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243363473131511338noreply@blogger.com0