Jewelry Designer's Gallery

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7 Comments

Comment by Lorri Ely on February 24, 2009 at 8:21am

LOVE the necklace designs and the evolution of your creative process, Carolyn!

Comment by Carolyn Nau on February 23, 2009 at 9:20am

Sorry I should have re-sized the images!

Comment by Carolyn Nau on February 23, 2009 at 9:19am

I'm pondering the ins and outs of the creative process.
Yesterday I was at a bead show and bought some spectacular stones. One group was some turquoise points that makes a perfect collar.
I came home and although I attempted to come up with something creative, I just couldn't get the predictable idea out of my head. So I sat down and made a beautiful collar design. Stunning. But also expected.

I woke up this morning and started going thru one of my design books and saw a couple ideas using spiky stones that mixed them in with other shapes and styles. Instantly I had an idea, I'd add the points to some Kazuri (clay) beads that I have been wanting to use. So I rushed to my work table and pulled out stones. Did I make the Kazuri necklace design? Nope. Instead I started working with some other stones I purchased yesterday, irregular Aqua Terra Jasper and some turquoise rondels. Love the final design.

It funny though, sometimes I must do the first design that pops into my head...seems to release it somehow. Then I can do the more over the top, unexpected thought. But then even after that, I'll have an idea, but when I actually sit down and start working it morphs into something completely different. I had this same thing happen many years ago when I was designing clothing....I'd sit down to do one thing, and what actually came to be had little or no relation to my original thought.

Does any one else have this experience?
Original purchase

Turquoise Drama - Predictable, expected

Intense Drama, Unpredictable, Unexpected

Comment by SANDY HIRSCH on February 10, 2009 at 8:59am

We used easels painted black for our indoor home parties and outdoor shows like " THE MUSHROOM MARDI GRA" in California...That's in the Western part of the U>S>A. incidently...We attached these easels together in sections of 4 panels each-each panel was about 5 feet tall and 3 ft wide and could be folded up after using and stored compacted for easy transfer. Each panel had a couple hundred holes in them so all we needed were the right sized nut and screw, hundreds of units of necklaces bracelets and earings and 2 director's chairs..

Everything was very festive with live music for the outdoor shows and plenty of champagn for the indoor home parties. No matter what version you use--have plenty of positive energy with a smile for your guests. And remember the famous quote.." THE ONLY THING TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF". I love your accent by the way....Good luck and have fun.

Comment by Carolyn Nau on February 8, 2009 at 4:27pm

Also Rena's book on Your profitable Jewelry Booth is great, very very detailed. And although I did trade shows for 7 years selling a different type of product, she had some great no-nonsense advice that makes sense.
Check out www.nilecorp.com for some fabulous bargains if you're looking for displays.
I took some really bad advice and got grey displays supposedly a great neutral that everything looks good on...wrong, looks dingy and dirty. Happily the velvet began buckling first time out, so we were able to return for full credit. Then I found Nile Corp and ordered leatherette in black, and they have a straight top so I can also hang earrings with necklaces. I like this one best as it works for different length necklaces well http://www.nilecorp.com/products.asp?sku=60-1L
but for an incredible bargain check out http://www.nilecorp.com/products.asp?sku=67-KL for .99 each!
These are great they're flat, take up little storage or table space, but can also be velcroed to a back wall.

My best advice though is Have Fun!

Comment by Rachel Genovese on February 8, 2009 at 12:20pm

Hi Chris! The single best resource I've found for jewelry business tips is Rena Klingenberg's "Home Jewelry Business Success Tips" website. Here is a link:

http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/

You'll find a ton of great ideas and information about everything you could possibly need. I was fortunate to find it right when I was starting my business and I was SO grateful for that because it helped make everything a lot less scary. In fact, even years later I still get her free newsletter, which constantly gives me new ideas for improving my sales and my business as a whole.

She also has a great jewelry business blog and another blog for jewelry display ideas (you can find links for both on the main site).

Comment by Chris on February 8, 2009 at 4:19am

Hi everyone,
I live in the U.K. in West Yorkshire and we are enjoying the best snow we have had in years! I lurve the snow but some people absolutely hate it. Mind you, it has been so lovely and cold it has been nice to snuggle down in front of a roaring fire with my silver wire and beads experimenting with new designs and revisiting some of the old favourites. Added warmth has come from the heat from the kiln with my daughter exercising her creative genius with making glass jewellery. The only scary thing is that we have booked our first ever trade fair for April and we are clueless as to how to go on really. Has anyone out there got any hints, tips, ideas they can share? Both myself and my daughter have full time jobs so our jewellery, bags and brooches are stress relieving hobbies and now we are catapulting ourselves out into the much wider sphere of commerce rather than our cosy and comfortable craft and local fairs! Oh, why did we do it?? Please, any help would be most gratefully accepted.
Thanks.
Chris and Alex