Gemstone Pendants

Gemstone Pendants

(new ones)

 

A few weeks ago I made a trip to my gemstone supplier, Two Guys Fossils.

 

 

 

This is the pendant I made for my friend who was looking for a gift for a friend (See this post awhile ago - Christmas already.)  This pendant is sold but I purchased many others and here they are

 

Some of my favorite stones, Picture Jasper and then of course Malachite and Lapis Lazuli.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They come with an 18 inch silver plate chain. If you want a different length just ask. Here is a picture of a Malachite pendant with a chain.

 

 

 

 

 

These gemstone pendants make great gifts. They go well with different outfits and are one of a kind gift as no two stones are exactly alike.

 

Here is a link to all the various pendants available.

 

 

I will send a picture of the exact gemstone to make sure you will like what you order.

 

 

Christmas already?

Christmas already?

(I need some help)

 

We all hate the stores that start stocking Christmas items already. I heard a new term the other day. "Hallothanksmas"

 

 

 

It implies what we all know, that fall holidays are coming faster and faster each year.

 

 

So this request may seem just like the stores but I really need your help.

 

I'm planning items I need to have available for your shopping pleasure. ;-)

 

 

 

 

I was surprised the other day when someone was asking to purchase a gemstone pendant and I didn't have any in stock. I had given them as gifts myself this past summer. Not only that but I was low on gemstones and also did not have any bails to make the pendants. Wow!

 

 

 

 

 

So, this week I've scheduled a trip to Two Guys Fossils for gemstones and the local bead shop for bails.

 

I'd rather not have to turn away business but need to have some ideas of what you might be looking for in the future holiday shopping season. (I didn't lose this business but I might have)

 

 

So, what kinds of things might you be looking for in the upcoming shopping season?  Bracelets, earrings, pendants?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And probably, most important, do you have a price point that you like to use for holiday gifts? I know I do. Let me know what works for you.

 

 

 

 

Time for new skills?

Today, I went on one of the South Shore Beaders field trips. We visited a School for Jewelry and Metal Arts where a vendor of gemstones was showing their wares. I'm not sure what we thought we would find but soon discovered they were out of our league (I guess I should say MY league anyhow).

Realizing we would find nothing we could afford or more importantly, our current customers would purchase, we decided to find a local bead store we quickly found in an Internet search. While these prices seemed higher than we would like, too, at least they were less than $850 per strand. More like $25 or so. I did find a nice strand for $18 that I liked and will be working on a design soon.

On our trip home, we had our usual discussions of how to find people to buy our wares and other such related themes.

Tonight, while watching the national news, I saw several pieces on the recession. One was about graduating college students that were altering their job searches from what they would like, to what was available. They specifically mentioned the fact that many were looking into government jobs like law enforcement.

The other was about how the recession was affecting children. They showed an organization in Chicago that placed children of parents who were out of jobs, loosing their homes etc, with people who would care for them temporarily while the parents got back on their feet.

All in all, today gave me something to think about in my jewelry designing business. The gemstone salesmen seemed to be doing well. ;-) I guess it amounts to finding your niche and maybe then learning some more skills such such as those taught at the school we first went to. Looking over the offerings there is a lot to learn. I found Trisha Harding is one of the instructors. I featured Trisha in a previous post. One of her pieces is shown above. We met her at the Fuller Craft Museum.


B


www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000makets.com

Shopping for Beads

Yesterday, one of my beading buddies and I went to a Bead show. It was only one vendor, "Nice People 4 Y". They had some great gemstones, good quality, beautiful. Here is a picture of my newest "stash".

I thought it would be fun to show you how I go about designing a new piece. So, I chose the strand on the bottom to start. Now this is really just a start. I'm not at all enthused with what it looks like now.

First I went to my bead drawers and pulled out some Bali Silver. I only had two strands that would even work. One was oval and one was rectangular. I figured rectangular would be best (matching the rectangle stones.) But it is usually best not to make too many decisions before hand. So, I put them all together anyhow.

Next I grabbed my considerable stash of Swarovski bicones. Only three of my colors "would go". I did add a few "maybe's" Here is the picture of the first go-round.

Next I tried the stones without the Bali Silver.

That is when I said "Maybe tomorrow" Nothing seemed to work well but I'll keep trying with this strand and maybe I'll work with one of my other purchases. How about the top strand. It might be easier. Oh, yes, I also have a web order of beads coming that should be here today. So, I will have something new soon.

B