Head, Heart,Hand Series Statement Pins

The Head,Heart,Hand series of statement pins to wear are a new line of jewelry that I have begun to design and fabricate.
 The idea began several years ago when I first saw and was delighted by beads carved/shaped into heads portraying cultural figures. The very first one that I had to have was a beautiful lampwork Medusa. I held that bead for years! It was so stately,so powerful, wise and scary! Ten years later, wanting to make a birthday present for a longtime friend that head would be perfect. And so the Medusa Pin was birthed. My friend exclaimed over the pin, saying it was so perfect for her right now and she wears it to staff meetings and other times dealing with difficult situations.
 This line of pins is designed to inspire the confidence boost we all sometimes really need. 
Second in the series-Hawaiian/polynesian...."KU" the first creative force.
   http://www.etsy.com/listing/92686068/lampwork-pin 

Latest in the series- Chinese- carved bone- "Fu-Shen"/ Hotei - Happiness
http://www.zibbet.com/designingparrotjewel2/artwork?artworkId=767368 

 

Copper Hearts Valentine's Day

Copper Hearts for valentine's Day...I couldn't resist making this freeform bracelet with of course Two lovely copper hearts. It's on my Etsy shop now waiting to become a gift for someone special.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76220078/copper-metalwork-bracelet-two-hearts

New Beading Material Pink Marble

A new beading material, Pink Marble, is becoming more and more popular for all types of handmade jewelry.

I came across some beautiful beads of this material and simply couldn't resist the silky feel and warmth of it!  I've wirewrapped a 2 1/2" square puffed piece of it and strung it with some gorgeous faceted Czech ovals.  

See the result on my Etsy shop: 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89818886/pink-marble-wirewrap-silver-necklace

Agate Coral Necklace Featured in an Etsy Treasury

My Agate Coral Necklace which I wire wrapped and fabricated with Chryscolla ( a beautiful blue/green mixture of gemstone) has just been featured in a beautiful gift guide treasury on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTA2NTA1NzF8MTI5MDI3NjIzNg/think-believe-wish-a-gift-guide-for-her

So exciting to know the work and love and care you put into making a piece is liked.

Tales Of De Stash

Y'all KNOW I have an enormous stash of beads that I adore but have yet to find exactly the right design  to use( better known as DE Stash). O.K. so it's the Holiday season and I've really gotten in the mood to create with Green and Red and Gold, Blue and White. So there is this bead that has been with me for 6 years( no joke!) and every time I have tried to make something with it.....hasn't worked out. Until this morning.....it came to me that I wanted so much to showcase the bead since it is a faceted, deep emerald green glass almost a trapezoidal shape and they way to do that was to use the bare minimum of design and embellishment. So, I got out the solid copper wire, copper delicate chain and copper lobster claw findings and set to work. Finally! 

It's listed on my Etsy shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesigningParrotJewel?ref=ss_profile

As you can see, I have done a fairly simple, decorative wire wrap, attached it to the delicate copper chain and it's complete. Ready to be worn to any holiday gathering or to work or shopping.

 Hope you like it!

Is Good Photography A Challenging Task?

One of the first things I learned when confronted with having to photograph my jewelry creations for my Etsy shop was that it wasn't going to be easy for a photo challenged person such as me. I'll be honest, most of my personal photos up to then were awful. I cut off everyone's head whether I liked them or not, everything was fuzzy and to far away to really see. Sigh!

I had to learn to do this! I went out and bought a Canon power Shot camera. One touted to be a miracle worker...it would correct shake, it would correct lighting, etc all automatically. O.K. I figured that I could probably learn to use. So I began and oh boy, the photos were still bad. Not as awful as before but hey baby not exactly good. Edges of necklaces were getting cut off when I put up the pictures on my shop on Etsy. Would I ever learn??

Then I started to really look at the pictures that made it to front page in treasuries and I started to put together treasuries too. LIGHTBULB!!  I realized that the pictures of items  that appealed to me were pictures that didn't necessarily show the entire item but enough of it to fill the frame and be sharp and obvious, then I'd be interested in seeing the actual listing for the item.

So, A few things I have found and that have helped me to take better photos.:

      1. Macro is number 1. Make sure that you really are taking a close up of the item so that as much detail as possible shows.

      2. Plain Background. Yup, don't use a confusing or conflicting background. White is best or a color that allows the details of the item to show. Don't use a print behind a print! 

      3. If Using A Model. Remember the ITEM is the focus of the picture not the person wearing it!  This is one area where it is permissible to "cut off their heads" or at least part of it.
     4. FOCUS. Yeah, well I still have difficulties in this area. Fuzzy pictures don't entice customers.
I'm finding that Jewelry is perhaps one of the most difficult subjects to photograph and I keep learning more techniques and redoing/updating photos. My shop still is not as photogenic as I would like it to be. And some colors could drive me totally over the edge. Amethyst is one of my favorite gems to work with and one that I have such a hard time getting to photo in it's realistic color. Purple always comes out too dark when I do it, no matter how I play with the lighting when taking the picture...sigh.


Anyway I could continue on  and on but this post is long enough!
However, let me say this...... if you have any advice for those of us who are photo challenged and MUST take pictures of their products, please please do let me know. 


Oh and since today is Thanksgiving ( better known as turkey day)....Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

A Love of Lampwork Glass Beads

I have a love of lampwork glass beads. It is astounding to me the detail and beauty and variety that artists come up with in making them. I have quite a few in my "stash" mainly because I am always looking to create the perfect jewelry to accent the beauty of the beads! Needless to say, my stash grows larger every day. But.......in sorting through the lampwork beads today I came across two beauties that are heart shaped, navy blue and clear glass and wow it hit me! Earrings would be gorgeous! So I set to work with silver findings and navy blue glass beads and this is the result......

I love them! What do you think??

I listed them in my Etsy shop for under $20.00 and No shipping charges!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86622695/lampwork-heart-earrings