My new favorite stitch--Herringbone weave

Herringbone is a fast and furious weave and the results are amazing. The seed beads line up and almost come together the way bones on a fish skeleton would, resulting in a complex looking flexible chain. While I wait for resin to cure (24 hrs,[each side] Yikes!), herringbone has been a great stitch to occupy my time, and keeps me from ruining the protective glassy finish with impatient fingerprints!!

This necklace was made with larger sized Japanese seed beads. The way the sun sparkles off the silver lining is just stunning. I'm still working on the clasp, it's in the test drive phase to make sure it doesn't fall off and get lost. I have a feeling this will be a nice base for a beautiful orchid pendant I've been hiding...

Sneak Peek: Just For Fun

This little cutie was begging to have it's photo taken... How could I resist?

As mentioned yesterday, I've been experimenting in watercolors and having a little fun with pen and ink drawings.

The pendants are just over 3/4 inch square with pastel to vibrant watercolor backgrounds. They are a whimsical finishing touch that is purely just for fun!

I still have quite a bit of work to do before these are ready for wearing, including a durable coat of clear resin and a decorative bail.

New old discoveries

Ach! Today is only Tuesday!! I'm way behind, just too many exciting things going on.

I'm in the middle of a new series of one of a kind, watercolor, focal pieces. It's almost painful to tear myself away from them for these few minutes... I'll have to wait for the resin to cure, so no eye candy until the end of the week at the earliest.

I went to the LIBRARY yesterday, you wouldn't think a girl that achieved a 3.8 in her last semester of college (I was studying neuroscience) would forget about the wonders of the local library, but I did. A totally free playground of knowledge!!! and all for the borrowing. I'm a little rusty at the Dewey Decimal system, but luckily the reference sheets were posted in accessible areas. My favorite area at the moment, starts around 740's That's the arts and crafts section. I picked up 5 books and boy, did that bring back memories... Macrame, needlepoint, jewelry design, giftwrap, Christmas ornaments and a few shelves over, watercolor techniques, painting and drawing. I definitely love the internet, but, sometimes you just want to sit in a cozy chair and peruse the pages of a good book. Not to mention, the ridiculous photos from the 60's and 70's. I'm a child of the 80's so some of the styles and fashions from back then just amaze me, it's hard to think, wow, people actually wore those things... and thought they looked good!! Not that the 80's was any better with fluorescent everything, but the books from 50-70 all have photos in black and white... so I'm not even commenting on some of those atrocious colors that were everywhere like mustard and avocado.

Which reminds me... The conclusion to the daily portrait is coming, there are just too many things to include, condense and cut down. It's coming along, we'll see if it can be fit in.

I've been featured in the Beading Gem's Journal!

Canadian blog authoress and jewelry designer-- Pearl, from The Beading Gem's Journal has been kind enough to highlight me as a featured designer and allow me to guest author a post on her site.

I first met Pearl on a jewelry making forum that we both frequent, and I was drawn to her because of her willingness to help others. She runs a design-your-own-jewelry service, where she is always looking for new ideas tips to help beginners that attend her workshops and beading parties around Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. In her journal, not only does she share tips for budding beaders and seasoned designers alike, but she also shares her knowledge of gemstone lore and history. One of my favorite articles that she has posted was about the history behind Marie Antoinette's Pearls. I'm not a history buff, but I love the way Pearl highlights the stories behind the jewels and makes learning fun and even interesting.

The Beading Gem's Journal is definitely one of my favorite blogs that I visit daily. I am truly honored to be featured and was taken completely by surprise to be asked to guest author! ^_^ Make sure to bookmark or subscribe to her blog, you never know what great ideas she'll bring your way!

Visit Pearl's blog at http://www.beadinggem.com

On the Horizon: Vintage Valentine and Fresh Flower Necklaces

After a minor disaster on Wednesday, which resulted in a broken halogen bulb... which is oddly, ridiculously insanely expensive to replace... yesterday was a catch up to make up for lost photography time. The daily portrait mini-series still needs a conclusion and will include info about those minor details people seem to overlook, and a best fit jewelry guide.

Later today, my favorite new necklaces will be transitioned into my shop. I have 5 that feature vintage heart shaped pendants with real flowers embedded in them. And also another new collection, a variation of the freshly picked necklaces that feature cat's eye fiber optic beads.

Daily Portrait Part 3 - Color

Color can work with or against you. The major things to consider when dealing with color are the shades already on your bodily canvas: skin, hair, eyes. And depending on the seasons outside, those "constants" will change. In the winter your skin may pale, in the summer your hair may lighten... so make sure the items you pick out each day go with your current canvas.

Darker shades can draw the eye in, and lighter shades can make things appear larger. Smart use of color can compound the effects of silhouette on the body, but it can only go so far, no amount of color is going to correct poor posture.

Neutrals are the building blocks of your wardrobe. This includes most muted natural fiber colors, and patterns such as tweeds and very thin plaids that look like a solid from a distance. These colors look great on most people, and can be mixed and matched with many different items from your closet.

Accents are the brighter colors that enhance you as an individual. These colors play off your skin tone, eye and hair color. This is where you consider your "color season" to see which colors traditionally look good according to your base. Of course, these are just guidelines.

Finding your color season:

• Winter- cooler blue or pink undertones in skin, deep colored eyes and dark hair
  
• Spring- warmer golden undertones in skin, paler skin than fall, light colored eyes - blue and greens, hair in the blonde and light red range.
  
• Summer- cooler blue or pink undertones in skin, paler skin than winter, lighter colored hair and pale eyes
  
• Fall -warmer golden undertones in skin, peachy golden coloring, usually red or brown hair with golden brown eyes
  

Accents to wear according to color season:

• Winter - Rich colors, that are crisp and have sharp contrast. Deep bold colors and crisp pastels. Avoid shades that are too close and blend with your skin tone.
  
• Spring - Soft blended colors. Avoid shades that are too bright or too dark as they will wash out your skin tone.
  
• Summer- Soft neutrals and pastels low contrast. Avoid intensely saturated colors.
  
• Fall - Warm shades of rich colors in the golden orange and red families. Avoid pastels

Make up can help add to the shaping of your face. Color seasons are especially important on the face, because this is where you will encounter each of the factors: eyes, skin and hair. Choose colors that blend and go lightly with your brush. A little make up goes a long way, don't over do it.

Using a shadow in an opposite color to your eye shade can really draw attention to your eyes. White or light colored shadow just underneath the eye brow and at the tear duct can make you look more awake. Bronzer on the raised areas of the face can add a little extra glow if you feel pale. A rosy shade on the apples of your cheeks and a darker shade underneath the cheek bones can make your face appear a little thinner. Also if you are wearing a lower neckline, don't forget a little make up can help the shoulders and chest area as well.

Daily Portrait Part 2 - Silhouette

Your silhouette can be thought of as your shape or outline. Shadow puppets are a great example, hands and fingers are used to mimic shapes and leave shadows of different objects. Your body, clothing, and hairstyle leave a silhouette in much the same way, just more constant and less extreme.

Look at a recent full body photo of yourself, or stand in front of a full length mirror. Imagine everything in the background as white, and the image of you as black, like a shadow. Your silhouette makes it easier to fit your body into the basic body type shapes. There are some general guidelines for each shape to make the clothing and accessories you choose more flattering to your body, by drawing attention to your best features and away from your problem areas.

Body Shapes

• hourglass - shoulder and hips are equal with a well defined waist
• pear- small shoulders well defined waist larger hips
• apple / round - wider around the mid-section than shoulders and hips
  
• inverted triangle- wide shoulders and small hips
• rectangular/minimal curves equal width from shoulder to hip

Creating the ideal silhouette
The body shape we want to mimic in our silhouette is the hourglass. This has to do with the way our bones are structured, it keeps the body weight well distributed and proportions in check.

First we need well fitting clothes, and that begins with a good bra. You can look like you've lost 10 or more pounds just by having the right support. So if you haven't been properly fitted by a professional, you should.

Clothing needs to fit the widest part of you first, and then if necessary, can be tailored to fit and flatter your body. Sloppy, ill-fitting clothes will not hide but accentuate the flaws you are trying to take the eye away from.

Cut, draping, and darts can add to areas that need filling out, and can subtract from areas that need to be thinned. Pear shapes can try puffy or fluttery sleeves, triangles can try A-line skirts, rectangles can try jackets that define the waist and flair at the hips. Round and others with ill-defined waists can try clothing with seaming that draws the eye in towards the center, also empire waist seams help to accentuate the smallest area of the torso.

Cropped jackets and shrugs will draw the eye up. Shirt length is important because it will visually separate the top and bottom. Too long can make your legs look stumpy and short, too short and it could cause a separation at an unflattering area. Skirt length should be very close to the knee, ending lower around mid calf makes legs look heavy. Pants look best with a straight cut, or slightly flared out. Shapes with wider hips and thighs should avoid pants that come in at the knee as it will make the legs look out of proportion. Chunky shoes make feet look heavy and not graceful. Try shapes that are comfortable but slenderizing. Thin heels and tapered wedges along with pointed toes make the foot appear a little longer and thinner.

This is a great starting point. We would be finished if we lived in a black and white shadow world, but alas, we do not. Stay tuned for Part 3.

Painting A Daily Portrait Doesn't Start with a Blank Canvas

No matter what you drape or adorn your body with each morning, you never start with a truly blank canvas. Hangers are the real blank slates: dull, lifeless, and completely without character. You, on the other hand are not. Your body has shape, form, color, and vibrancy. These differences are what make each individual unique. And since fighting the differences we perceive in the mirror as flaws will always result in a losing battle, we need to focus and draw attention towards the assets we do posses, and we'll may find those "flaws" aren't so bad after all.

There are many lists of dos and don'ts concerning fashion. There is also a lot of conflicting information, mostly, because the checklists focus on just one very limited area. You can't expect the portrait you paint to be perceived in such a one dimensional view.

Over the next few articles, I will be writing about most of the aspects that should be considered for your clothing, hair, makeup and accessories. Remember there is no absolute "right" and "wrong", these are just suggestions to make your choices more flattering for the body that you have. You must evaluate each characteristic for yourself and decide what fits best with your personality, body and lifestyle.

On The Horizon: Fashion from Head to Toe Mini Series

It's Friday! I'll be polishing up a mini series of articles for next week, I still have to do a lot of research, and images to do.

It's been lots of fun to look at fashion mistakes from now and the past! My goal, is not to have any more photos where I say to myself, "I can't believe I thought that looked good!" and "What was I thinking??" We can't blame mindless trend following of fashion atrocities on "that was the style back then" any longer!

In a world where almost everyone has a camera in there cell phone, we can't afford to look bad, ever.

I'll also be working on a regimented work schedule, cross your fingers to help me stick to it!

My Favorite Metal for Chainmaille - Aluminum Alloy 5356

This is an experimental ball (well, more of a dodecahedron) I constructed completely from my favorite chainmaille metal.

Aluminum 5356 or "Bright" Aluminum is lead- free, rust-free, tarnish-free, ultra-lightweight, and looks very much like sterling silver. Very bold styles can be constructed with it at a fraction of the cost and weight of a similar piece made in silver. It acts very much like precious metal, as it is not coated like gold-plate or silver-plate and it won't turn your skin weird shades of green like brass or copper sometimes does.

Bright Aluminum shouldn't be confused with normal aluminum which oxidizes and can leave a dull coating on the metal and rub-off which looks a lot like dark gray pencil markings on skin and clothing.

All of my chainmaille pieces start as aluminum alloy wire that has been hand-coiled by me. Rings are formed by cutting them individually from the coil using shears. Each ring is then opened, interlocked and finally closed to form a chain or motif. If the item uses a clasp, they are hand-turned and made from the same material as the links.

If you haven't tried aluminum, don't be afraid. It's got a lot of good things going for it and it just plain looks great!

January Sale

Items in my shop are on sale until February! And most have FREE domestic shipping to the US. New items are being added daily, and new photos for the older items will be uploaded. Make sure to stop by or subscribe to the shop(the link is on the right) to stay updated.

My Smell-Free Guarantee

Have you ever gone to a thrift store, and it has that musty attic/damp basement smell?

How your items are stored can dictate a lot. There are many people with allergies and sensitivities so it is important to note anything that would be different from purchasing from a normal brick and mortar store.

I recently went through a box of older items, incredible finds, but weird scent-sations emanated from most of the pieces. They are currently decontaminating, and airing out from a soap and water bath. More help will come with newspaper and small containers of baking soda to absorb any lingering fragrances.

Vintage items can be very interesting and add a unique touch to a new piece of jewelry, it is also nice to be able to recycle pieces that might no longer be useful as is. When I go looking for vintage items, materials and shape come first, but sometimes odors are one of the biggest obstacles. Hard materials such as glass, some gemstones and crystal, those musty aromas will wash away with soap and water, from pearls, plastics and wood, there needs to be some more work to arrive at an acceptable smelling piece.

All my jewelry is made in a pet-free, harsh-chemical-free, smoke-free home: there won't be any odors sent along with your order.

Before the components become jewelry they are stored in clear plastic containers, sometimes nested in other clear containers, "new" vintage items are quarantined from the other beads until they are no longer aromatic. Pearls and other stones that need to "breathe" are stored in containers which allow air circulation, so they do not become brittle and crack. My completed jewelry pieces are stored in a protective jewelry box with ample circulation and a special lining that prevents scratches and tarnish.

So you can be assured that when you order any of the designs, that it is as hypoallergenic as an item from a conventional store and not from an icky smelly basement.

A Wishlist to Satisfy the Doldrums of Winter

Do you have little slips of paper everywhere with must-have-items scrawled on them? Or a bookmark list that is scary to open? Does anyone ever ask if you need anything and your mind goes blank? Or do you have items in mind that are so specific or complicated that you need to pick them out yourself? Are you on a limited budget and can't afford the luxury of "buyer's remorse"?

The winter doldrums have set in, and it's always nice to keep a current wishlist available for when someone asks if there is something that you wish to own, or would help you in growing your hobby or business.

I'm not one for resolutions, but taking one look at my folder of receipts and the mountain of tax forms, makes me want to start the new fiscal year the right way. It's a little depressing to see all those minus signs for costs of things, so I am practicing working with spreadsheets and databases with fun business related wishlists.

Spreadsheets and databases are very useful and can a lot of fun, and not too hard to set up. It doesn't have to be any harder than setting up your email. You can sort the lists alphabetically, or by cost, or even by store or genre. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to remember what it was you thought was a great idea and order it, only to realize a few minutes later, that you could have picked up a little something extra for no extra shipping! This happens to me all the time, so I think an accessible, organizable wishlist is a great way to prepare for the year, not to mention it eliminates all those duplicate or what-were-they-thinking gifts from people who mean well, but have no idea what to buy for you.

Well, for now, I'm off to collect my scraps... all the organizing, pricing and comparison shopping can come later...

On the Horizon...Photo Shoot

Big Photo Shoot

It's Friday again, I've been working hard this week on the new projects to keep myself distracted. So I've created quite a pile of finished pieces that need to be photographed and edited summarized and uploaded. I'm still getting used to the new camera, tweaking my lights, and learning all over again how to do the simplest things.

I am planning a new mini series of articles about picking the right jewelry, so that will be coming up soon.

Have a Happy Weekend!

Freshly Picked

Super cute, delicate, and feminine the new collection "Freshly Picked" features a genuine flower from Thailand, freshwater pearls and mother of pearl accents along a delicate chain of seed beads finished with sterling silver findings. The hand turned sterling silver ear wires are adorned with small flourished mother of pearl "leaves" and a matching "bud" bead.

Currently available in pink, purple and orange. More colors, yellow, and white are coming soon. Custom color combinations upon request. They will be blooming in my shop early next week.

A break in the clouds

There was a beautiful break in the clouds this morning as her marking stone was set in place...

Back for the week

Despite a pretty severe back spasm and horrendous pains running down my sciatic nerves in both legs, I had a great weekend. (And thankfully they are mostly resolved now!)

We had a wonderful dinner and gift celebration, and my handmade gifts were well received! ^_^

I've been working on chainmaille , and created a necklace and bracelet set as a gift. The weave was European 4 in 1 boxchain and it was made out of bright aluminum rings. I forgot to take a picture... but it was very cool, and one of my favorite weaves so another may be coming along soon. It was quite substantial looking, while also being surprisingly lightweight. The chain diameter was about a quarter inch.

I'm currently working out the kinks of preproduction, but here is a sneak peek of what has gotten me so excited and inspired for one of my new collections called "Topsy-Turvy":
When you flip the image both names are still readable!!

This was a gift for my boyfriend's parents. Each received a framed image (maybe to keep at their office) and another larger framed image for displaying at home.

These new designs are lots of fun for me to create, and lots of fun to receive.

If you are interested in a discounted pre-order with for a personalized "Topsy-Turvy" feel free to contact me. I'll mostly be creating jewelry charms, with and without frames, but the images could be used for almost anything! These are perfect for bracelet inscriptions because the words are never upside down!

A few more collections are scheduled to be announced soon.

On The Horizon

Since it is Friday, I'm preparing for a long weekend of relaxation and design. A girl's got to rest some time. ^_^

I was kind of left out of all the holiday celebrating... Hanukkah came at a very early time, so it wasn't as awesome as it normally is. It seems like no one else gets gifts then, so you don't get to trade what-did-you-gets with all your pals... It's all-- So how long did your candles burn last night? and that just isn't as fun.

Xmas / Winter Gift Day always comes late for me, as we house sit for the family. The little kitty was sick, (wasn't eating...but she is now doing better!), and I also had to take care of some LOVEbirds that only wanted to FIGHT with each other. So, we are having Santa come to visit this weekend. He makes a special trip in January just for me, because he knows Xmas is about family, and not just greed and gifts. I don't get to see my own family until sometime in March, but I digress...

Ironically, on Christmas day, I watched some documentaries on the History Channel that said Christmas (which is supposed to celebrate the birth of Christ) comes at the wrong time of year. Actually, it should be somewhere in the spring, as that is when shepherds are tending to their herds at night, to protect them from wolves (per the stories told by the gospels). Back in the days when the church was making things up as they went along, (and you know it's true!), they decided to put the celebration of the birth at the same time as a pagan winter festival, to make converting less of a downer. I guess people like their celebrations... so there was a compromise. I personally acknowledge Christmas during Easter.

After a ton of research about what I wanted to accomplish, many reviews, and of course post holiday sales...(Thank you silly shopping masses and your fixed date celebrations!) I've procured a long overdue necessity of my very own, THE best camera...[evar!] (I know there is an A in there, it's a silly computer geeky mannerism)... for under $90. Oh, and it even came with an SD card. Plus, the online shop is supporting Komen for the Cure, The package that came to my doorstep was Totally PINK! Hurray, for shopping that supports good research! So I'll be playing with the settings and generally will be annoying just about anyone who comes in my path, so watch out! Wait, annoying isn't the right word... It's, um... research for my business...^_^

I have some new jewelry designs in the making. They are absolutely fun and amazing, if I do say so myself... and I can't stop playing with them. They'll be worth the wait.

Other jewelry stuff is coming, like patterns and techniques, too. But that's going to have to be put on hold a little longer. Other aspects have been neglected and are in need of some serious updating... hmm, sounds like a lot for one weekend. I'll be back Monday or Tuesday... afterall, it's Xmas.

Products ON the body are as important as those going IN

Some of us are very health conscious, and only want to put the best things into our bodies, avoiding things like processed foods and going organic when possible.

We sacrifice eating wonder bread and have whole wheat instead, no more mystery meats like hot dogs and hamburgers, no more candy (except an occasional healthy piece of chocolate), and getting rid of all the other yummy junk food, and opting for healthier food choices.

Since this is the beginning of January, promises to start dieting and exercising and being a nicer person seem to be some of the top issues people are looking to change this year.

A lot of us are forgetting that what we put on the body may be going in as well. Products such as cosmetics and jewelry come in contact with skin for most of our waking hours. The skin is the largest organ of the body, it will absorb harmful substances over time.

Know about what you are wearing, don't sacrifice your life or your morals to look good. Many of us avoid cosmetics that are tested on animals, but what else are they putting in those powders and creams? Take a look, then check your products to make sure you aren't putting these things on your skin.

Some of the horrific ingredients in body care products include:

• human and cow placenta hormone extracts
• mercury
  
• lead
• neurotoxins
• animal parts and by-products
  
• chemicals that create permanent lesions on the skin
• chemicals that affect sperm
• cancer-causing petroleum by-products

Cosmetics should also be changed regularly, (about every 3 months), to avoid exposing yourself to dangerous bacteria.

Jewelry has the same potential for damage to your body. The costs of bargains are paid for by someone, whether it's a laborer being underpaid, or poisons being added to make the materials cost less.

Some gemstones are also irradiated (bombarded with subatomic and radioactive particles) to enhance color, and there have been some cases of stones being sold which contained unsafe levels of radiation.

• Buy quality pieces to limit your exposure to harmful chemicals
  
• Be wary of mystery jewelry with unknown content
  
• Avoid putting jewelry in your mouth
• Avoid jewelry when there is excess moisture on your skin

Now is the time to get focused on those resolutions, so be nice in everything that you support, and be healthy in all you expose your body to!

Pretty or Poison

Realities to consider BEFORE you pick up that "bargain" jewelry

Beads and the other components that are safe, cost more. With all the recent recalls concerning lead paint in children's toys, and harmful substances in other imported products, worries are increasing as to what the actual content of what we normally purchase really is.

When you buy something that is clearly marked as precious metal (sterling silver, 14K gold, etc.), you generally don't have much to worry about, at least with those certain components. These are regulated alloys, containing certain amounts of specific metals. For example, sterling silver contains no less than 92.5% silver, and 14K gold is 58.3% gold or 14 parts out of 24, the remainders for these alloys are made of mostly copper, silver and nickel .

It's the pieces that are unspecified base-metal including some if not most plated items, and much foreign pewter which are most likely to contain lead. Some jewelry is also painted, so you also have to be concerned about lead based paint and it's hazardous dust and flakes. It isn't just cost which will help detemine how safe a piece of jewelry is, crystals are usually leaded (it is what makes them sparkle more than glass), and shouldn't be used in children's jewelry, or pieces to be worn by pregnant women or new mothers. Find out what the jewelry is made of to make sure you aren't putting yourself or someone you love at risk.

When products are listed as "base metal" there is no standard concoction, and you could be purchasing any combination of non-precious metals, which also includes dangerous and poisonous lead. Lead is tempting to add to alloy mixes by the unscrupulous because of it's softness, abundance, and weight. It makes castings, beads, and stampings easier to produce and much more cheaply than more expensive materials, and also adds heaviness to the item to make it feel like it should be worth a little more. Also in the past, this substance was used to aid in the brightness and drying time of paints. Since lead is known to be a poison, which affects everyone young and old even in the tiniest of amounts from inhalation or ingestion, it has been eliminated from many products. It's the cheapest of items, from the poorest countries that utilize this poison to try to increase their profits and lure you in with low priced "bargains".

The Permanent Dangers of Lead

At lower levels:

• It harms the brain and nervous system
• Interferes with growth
• makes learning difficult and has been shown to lower IQ scores
• it may also lead to ADD type symptoms like poor concentration and excitability/restlessness

At the high levels:

• Convulsions
• Coma
• Death

But one of the scariest things is that most children show no symptoms, or if they occur are confused with flu-like illnesses. Children are most at risk because their bodies absorb the metal more readily than adults, and will place just about anything in their mouths. Lead paint is also supposed to taste sweet, which makes it just that much more dangerous. Pregnant woman are also at risk, even the tiniest exposure can harm the unborn child. It is already all over the environment, and can be found in soil, water, and air. Paint was a big culprit, lead paint being used in US homes all the way until 1978. Other sources include food that is stored in poorly glazed pottery, packaged in cans made with lead seams (no longer supposed to be used in US made cans), or liquids stored in leaded crystal.

If you aren't paying fair value with money, are you sacrificing something else?

When you pay, one or two dollars for a fashion accessory, what are you supporting? These things have a cost, if you aren't paying for it with money, are you sacrificing something else? How much are the wages for the laborer? What are their working conditions? How safe or hazardous are the components that spend hours on your body? These unscrupulous places will only stop doing business this way when consumers stop supporting them, don't encourage them to continue to poison others. Only buy from reputable sources.

For more information on lead you can call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-LEAD-FYI

Handmade vs. Home-made Jewelry

The business of jewelry making is NOT inexpensive, and to some, it isn't just a hobby.

"I could make that for less!"
I hear it all the time, complaints about certain jewelry items being too expensive, and a shopper making a comment that they could make a similar piece for less. But is it really? Would it be of similar quality workmanship, quality of materials?

Sometimes the difference is like dinner at a fancy restaurant vs. fast food. Both places will get you fed, but one will have an expert with years of culinary school as your chef, and the other could be just a person with no cooking experience at all. Too much of the time, shoppers confuse fillet-mignon with fast-food or first cuts with by-products, comparing handmade items made with good quality materials to mass produced pieces with poor workmanship and poor quality goods.

The quality of items available at the chain craft stores are sketchy at best.

• Where are the materials going to come from for that home-made jewelry?
• How long is it really going to take to create?
• How long before it breaks?
• How long to learn the techniques involved in creating that piece?

A lot of the time, it is just a matter of sticker shock. How much do you pay for your shoes or other clothing? A piece of well crafted handmade jewelry could be passed to future generations, I doubt any of the other things people usually have no trouble spending on have that same quality. We are being bombarded daily with things that are cheaply created and forget that sometimes the extra investment will bring a great return.

Jewelry isn't simply the materials involved in the final piece, but the quality of craftsmanship. There are other expenses such as tools which can be very costly, time invested learning the right ways to utilize them, combinations of techniques involved, shopping time finding those precious materials, costs of having a business so that you have access to the places that sell better quality materials, etc.

Fast food costs pennies to the actual companies that sell the food, yet people don't have problems paying tens of times more than the materials involved, the profit margin for more expensive eating establishments is usually much less. Excellent chefs are compensated for their expertise and technique, while people that flip burgers make minimum wage. Why shouldn't a jewelry designer be compensated for their time as well?

So before you or someone else falls for the I-could-make-it-for-less argument, consider all the factors that go into the cost of the piece:

How long is it going to last?

• Quality of materials
• Quality of workmanship

What are the elements of design?

• Techniques involved
• Time learning those techniques
• Originality and ingenuity

What are the materials?

• Cost of the raw goods
• Overhead business costs to access the suppliers of those materials

How to actually create the piece?

• Costs of the tools and equipment
  
• Time learning how to use the tools
• Time actually constructing the piece

When a fair wage is considered for the time and expertise that goes into the creation of many pieces, you'll find that a lot of the good quality Handmade jewelry items that are up for sale are actually underpriced. Consider all the enjoyment you'll receive from the wearable piece of art, and how much time and frustration you'll save picking it up from a true artisan than trying to make-due with that home-made bargain.

What's a Subscription?

Subscriptions are free, and very useful. They let you know when new things are added to your favorite sites. If there are pages that you like to check up on, you can save a lot of time by signing up for their feed. No more wasted time, from visiting sites that haven't been updated.

Usually the subscription link will be accompanied by a small orange icon. If you like what you've read, you can sign up for the subscription or "feed" in a couple different ways. You can have the new articles added to a news reader or aggregator, or by email. You can tell a site has a feed available usually by seeing the orange icon to the right of their web page address in the address bar. That little icon is clickable, and you can make sure not to miss another minute.

I use iGoogle and I add all the feeds to my favorite blogs and other important places directly to my homepage. There are also similar services from the other major sites. When there is a new article posted, I know right away. And you can cancel your subscription whenever you want, and sign up again later if things get interesting.

In the FireFox browser you can save a feed as a "live bookmark" so as the posts get added to the site the bookmark turns into a drop down menu of headlines. This is great for reading newspaper feeds, as they cover a wide range of topics . You can skip past the links in the bookmark that don't appeal to you, and go straight for the headlines that catch your eye.



You don't have to check everyday to see if there is new content, the feed automatically updates when the author publishes new posts.

A news reader can be a program that is very similar to an email client. You just add the subscription links from your favorite feeds and the aggregator is very much like a up-to-the-minute magazine that is especially personalized to you.

Some of the most popular online feed readers

• Google Reader
• NewsGator
  (Online)
• My Yahoo!
• Bloglines
• Pageflakes
• Netvibes

Subscription by email is a nice alternative if you don't get many feeds and want to stay current. Just as with the others, you are notified but this time with an email, as soon as there is new content. If you get more than a few feeds, this can really load your inbox. Feeds can become quite addictive, because of all the time savings; but you may lose some time deleting all those extra emails. Now that there are so many newsreaders integrated into the major search engine home pages, you might want to see how to add a newsreader module to that instead.


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About Me

I am a traditional and digital artist, a jewelry and graphic designer, and finally a web programmer.

Well, I guess there isn't really a finally... I build custom computers, and play with power tools too... The list goes on and on. The only thing the list doesn't include is exposure to dangerous fumes and chemicals.

Next on my learning wishlist is glass fusing/lampwork. I just have to get over that itsy-bitsy fear of fire, plus a flame proof work bench and all the tools to go with it.

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