NEW Peyote Stitch Jewels

Check out the new bracelets! I love the green one and think I will keep it. I have it and tons more on my website at http://www.divelladelights.com/

HANDMADE BRIDAL JEWELRY

Although the big June wedding season has come to a close there are still a lot of brides out there who want something a little (or a lot) different for that wonderful and unforgettable day. If you are one of those brides, check out this stunning set with pearls, opalite, sterling and those well- loved fine Austrian crystals by Swarovski. I am also available to make one especially for you that will distinguish you from all the other brides out there with that traditional strand of pearls. We can incorporate different colors and we can even make a more subtle version of your design for your bridesmaids. This jewelry will make a wonderful gift to those special women surrounding you and supporting you throughout your weeding planning. Make a statement!

HANDCRAFTED SHELL and PEARL NECKLACE

I have had my 5 year old twin granddaughters this week which does not give me a lot of time for much of anything. I have managed to get this piece done. It is made with a gorgeous lampwork shell bead by (you guessed it) Generations Lampwork. Surrounding the shell are an abundance of genuine pearls, and lots of Crazy Lace Agate and sterling silver. the earrings have actual shells with pearls and Crazy Lace with all sterling findings. As always you can get more info on this piece and others by clicking on http://www.divelladelights.etsy.com Gotta run, the girls are calling...Graaaaaannnnnnyyyy.

OK so here is the fun little piece I did for the juried show at MPBN. It features 3 handmade lampwork beads by my favorite lampwork artist, Generations Lampwork found at http://www.generationslampwork.etsy.com/ It also has Opalite, Blue Quartz, Pearls, Rose Quartz, Aventurine, and Swarovski crystals. I called it Rendezvous on the Reef. Cute huh? Anyway I am honored to be placed in Gallery 5 in Lewiston, 8 newspapers and on MPBN. I donated the Yellow Jade set as well, a little more conservative and my usual design concept. I had a lot of fun with the fish piece and am glad it is a one of a kind design for them.

Juried Art Show

I MADE IT! One of my pieces was selected by a jury to be included in the MPBN 37th Annual Exhibit to be held at Gallery 5 in Lewiston to be followed by a live auction at Maine Maritime Museum on July 12th. I am very excited and honored to have my work chosen. They called nme toady in Boston to inform me so I cannot post a photo of the piece until Saturday when I return home.

Selling my wares

OK so I needed to make myself something to go a-marketing in because I wanted to be able to wear both the styles I do...black pants, green sweater...what do you think? I am making some bobs this morning to complete the set. The bracelet is a little big for me, I did not get the idea until I crocheted it. I will have to make myslef another to fit. I am on my way down the coast of Maine and to Cambridge and surrounding areas. I have been told by several women that live down there that I need to go to Harvard Square so here I come! I am really hoping to get at least 3 accounts between Maine and Mass. My sweetie bought me a very nice black leather jewelers case to travel with, much nicer than plastic bags. Wish me luck!

Poppy Jasper and Carnelian Creation

OK Here it is. This set is stunning. You know, I usually get one of these sets done on a day. I am in my studio at 8:00AM and wrap up for the day at 5:30PM. After supper I do my crocheted pieces in the living room while I watch a little TV with my sweetie. So in a full work day I can get everything done except the clasps because after I weave everything I put a drop or two of G-S Hypo on the knots and let them set overnight just to be sure everything is wrapped up good and tight. This set took my 3 days only because I was so amazed by the colors in each little nugget of the Poppy Jasper. To see it in person this set is just gorgeous. I have put it on line although I am not really sure I want to sell this one. I told myself I would give it 5 days and see what happens. Then, it's mine! I have yet to keep a set I have made. I keep telling myself I will and then someone wants it so I part with it.
I am so grateful to be able to so this for work. I left my full time "day job" to pursue this passion. I began this line of work in a rather odd way. I knit hand made, felted bags and thought it would be fun if I put some beaded embellishments on them so I picked up some craft store beads and such. I had some left over after a bag and thought I would see if I could produce a piece of jewelry. Now, I am the type of gal who likes to have matching earrings for every outfit so after I made the first pair I bought some more beads and was introduced to Swarovski crystals by a friend so I got some of those. Time went on and I came up with a design for a bracelet that I really loved. I took them to a jewelry store and the wonderful store owner bought some and suggested I look into doing this design with gems and pearls. That frightened me a little because of the cost involved but I gave it a try. This series is the result of that and I was hooked. Meanwhile he had gone to Hawaii where he winters. I took them to a local jewelry store and she bought them and has continued to purchase from me. She ran out twice the week before Christmas and all total she has purchased over $3200.00 of my designs since mid October of last year. When I went to see her 2 weeks ago she told me it had been really dead in the store and the only items she has sold are my creations! WOW! What a compliment that was, and she bought more. She sells them at a fairly high price, double what I get.
I am truly blessed to be able to do this. I guess I would say I am successful as I define it, although I still need to do a lot of marketing to be able to support myself. I have a passion for what I do and God has given me the talent it seems opportunity to do it. Things are getting a little tight now as far as money goes. With Summer coming and Bob opening for the season next month things should get better. I am really excited to be able to show him the results if his suggestions! Well, Off I go again to see what I can come up with next!

Poppy Jasper Jewelry

I found these Poppy Japser chips when I was rearrangeing my studio yesterday. I didn't know I had them! The colors in these are so beautiful. If you look at them closely they are truly spectacular. Sometimes it really amazes me, the beauty of nature. So it gave me the inspiration I needed for my next piece. I know the colors are sort of Fall-ish but they are just too pretty to wait until then. I selected some faceted Carnelian and some other poppy 6mm and 8mm beads to go with it and I will of course put in the pearls and Swarovski crystals. I found a large faceted carnelian at a shop nearby to use for the center. I think this piece will be my best yet. Of course, it could be because I just love these colors. Earthtones are my favorite and I love working with them. This set will of course be in gold. I just might keep this one! I have said that before and always end up selling but to date I do not have one of my signature pieces of my own. I do plan on making 2 bracelets with this one so maybe I can just keep one of those. I usually only make one set; necklace, bracelet, and a couple pair of earrings then it is on to the next color scheme. So in the shower with me then onto this beautiful project!

In need of marketing tips

This is another one of those beautiful shells made by Generations Lampwork at http://www.generationslampwork.etsy.com. The remainder of the bracelet is made with pearls, Avenurtine, green Quartz, gold, and Swarovski crystals. This is my signature design and one that I have been quite successful with. The local jewelry store sells them like crazy and has been steady with the sales since I began my account with them last October but I need a few more stores like this one. I enjoy making these although each piece takes me about an hour and a half. I love to do one of a kind items. The jewelry store marketing is a little difficult as they seem to want to have items that can be reordered. I can't or I guess won't make copies. I can use the same gems and other materials but each one comes out different, even if I try. As a result I have not found my niche but will keep trying. I enjoy the process very much and I think that is the important thing. A small sample of my desings can be seen at http://www.divelladelights.etsy.com. I welcome any tips anyone has for marketing!! Please comment.

This is my favorite piece so far. It is made with a beautiful lampwork shell by Generations Lampwork http://www.generationslampwork.etsy.com/ and is the centerpiece around which I designed this piece. I just happened to have pearls to match the lampwork perfectly and the stick pearls really give this a rich, dramatic look. I use a lot of Swarovski crystal in my pieces, I just can't get enough of that wonderful sparkle they have. I used 14K gold filled wire to wrap this piece all up and for the earrings as well. It sold to the local jewelry store 2 hours after it was finished for quite a nice sum. I am really enjoying thsi coastal theme I am doing. I have some fun pieces with octopus, shells and soon to come I have a design idea for some lobsters. I live in Maine so it only makes sense to do something with a lobster. Don't forget to keep an eye on my Etsy site for more designs! http://divelladelights.etsy.com/