Wanderings ~ a jewelry artisan's thoughts

2008-04-26T08:05:00.001-05:00

I've gotten a new tutorial for "Art Jewelry" magazine approved. Just waiting for the letter to start work on it. It's absolutely beautiful up here in Boston. The Cherry trees are in bloom, skies are blue and everything is turning green. We started sprucing up the yard this weekend. Hopefully it will stay nice and not snow!!!!!

2008-02-23T08:45:00.006-05:00

Up in Boston we're buried under over a foot of snow. For now it looks beautiful. Etsy is doing well. Slow but steady. I've already sold off a bunch of supplies. I've put several pieces of jewelry on, to see how they do. Etsy is tough for jewelry, like everywhere else it's a saturated market. I've submitted another tutorial for Art Jewelry Magazine. Fingers crossed that they accept it. I love the magazine and the staff is absolutely wonderful. If you don't subscribe to it I would ~ http://www.artjewelrymag.com/art/default.aspx

I've been working on some new items. Definitely going more organic. I'm going to try to mix in some chain maille and viking knitting with some organic elements. Here are a couple of pieces.

These are just a few of the new studs that I'm working on. I've got so many ideas brewing in my head. Now I just need to find the time to make them!!!

2007-12-27T12:55:00.001-05:00

I have an etsy page now! I'm going to be selling off supplies I don't need and OOAK pieces that I'm not going to be producing for wholesale.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=40776

Leanne

2007-12-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to the first 2 pages of the tutorial in Art Jewelry Magazine.

http://www.piecesofclass.net/Coils_Incognito.pdf

Leanne
http://www.piecesofclass.net

2007-12-27T08:16:00.000-05:00

Wooof! What a busy year!! I've picked up almost 30 new wholesale accounts and have a tutorial in Art Jewelry Magazine (Jan 2008) and the new Make it Mine Magazine (Nov 2007).

I'm taking this week off to regroup, order new materials and sketch some new designs that have been floating around in my head. I'm going to start selling off excess supplies on etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=40776

Last year was a great year for me, I wonder what this new year will bring. I've been doing email marketing campaigns, not sure how successful they are. I mailed out a postcard campaign in November, we'll see if it brings in new business for this year.

Leanne

2007-02-26T11:12:00.000-05:00

Just got back from skiing with the kids. It was a lot of fun. We are 2 for skiing and 2 against. Oh well. Could have been worse.

I've got a tutorial coming out in Art Jewelry Magazine and another one or two in Step by Step Wire. I'm going to next try to get some of my photos published in a book or two. I'm teaching chain maille and basic wire wrapping classes at a local gallery. I think I'm going to like this. I was hesitant to teach or write, feeling that it would take away from my jewelry making, but I like it. Perhaps the articles and classes will earn me more money than selling? We'll see. If anything it's great for the slow times of the year.

2007-01-23T09:57:00.000-05:00

Geez, I'm really not good at correspondance I guess. Things are going well *knock on wood*. My designs are in over 30 galleries now. I'm now going to set my sights on getting published in several magazines to increase my credibility in the metals community. Keep your eyes open for tutorials in the art jewelry magazines. LOL

I had thought I wsa going to keep the one-of-a kinds on my retail website with a cart. Changed my mind. I'm not going to be posting any more pictures or updating my website with new designs. There will be no more retail on my website. I have a wholesale website that is password protected for retailers only. That's the only site I'll be updating. I'm tired of people coming to my site and trying to lift pictures and my designs. I get 50+ hits a month on my copyright page. It's getting ridiculous. Copying is so rampant in the jewelry design area it's sickening. Everyone wants to make jewelry, but they obviously can't come up with their own ideas, so they just copy what's out there.

Enough ranting, off the design some more jewelry.

2006-06-12T11:57:00.000-05:00

June 12th~ Things are going slow but steady. I've revamped my website in order to concentrate more on wholesale accounts. I enjoy wholesaling more than retail. I'm having an internal struggle re: wholesale only or wholesale/retail. I've heard many retailers will not do business with you if you have a shopping cart site. They don't want the competition. I'm not ready to take the plunge so I've taken all items available wholesale off my retail website. I have an entirely separate wholesale website now. We'll see how this goes. All one-of-a-kinds will still be put on the retail website.

2006-05-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

It's now May and so much has happened. I've been mentioned in the April issue of The Crafts Report, I hit my goal of over 20 galleries and after a period of not feeling creative, I've hit a stride.
I'm really enjoying creating all the new chain work and feel that I've found my niche.

The breast cancer jewelry has allowed me to contribute $1038 dollars so far to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research. I'm hoping to hit $1500 for this year.

Fingers crossed "X" that the remainder of the year will be as good as the beginning. ^^
U

Leanne

2006-01-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

whew! the Holiday season is over and I'm ready for a new year. The new year seems to be off in a great way. I've gotten into 3 more galleries/shops and I was contacted by a new luxury goods company who want to offer my jewelry to their customers. Fingers and toes crossed that this is a good omen.

I took a class Thursday night from Loren Damewood on the prolonged knot technique and made a bracelet. Great new technique. Monday night I'm taking his ring class. These rings are amazing!!!!! I can't wait. Hopefully the ring won't be as difficult as the bracelet!!!

I'm going to be getting a kiln so I can custom make the ends for my viking knit. There aren't very many creative ending pieces out there. I want to have my jewelry not depend on commercial or foreign purchased findings. I already make a lot of my own clasps, head pins and earring findings. A lot of the galleries ask where you get the silver and if it is from overseas they will not purchase or show your jewelry. They are getting very picky. Plus it's nice to be able to say that you made the entire piece yourself.

Leanne

2005-10-29T10:32:00.000-05:00

I've decided to change my business direction. I'm going to be giving up the juried shows. I want to spend the weekends with my family. I'm going to concentrate on building up my retail and gallery presense. My goal is to be in 20 stores/galleries by year end '06. I'm also phasing out the stringing of beads. There are just WAY too many people stringing beads. The galleries are very receptive of my woven work so I'm going to concentrate on those techniques. I just got into a jewelry gallery in Groton, MA; I have a couple more to contact in the area. I'm enjoying the response I get from other artists, and the gallery owners are great.

I received a write-up in the Boston Globe about the Breast Cancer Jewelry. Lorelle's Dream is going well. I've contributed almost $500 since August to the American Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I also did a fund raiser for another girlfriend and we raised $400 for the North Shore Medical Center for breast cancer research. I am really excited to have been able to contribute $900 for such a good cause. I hope this continues.

Leanne

2005-09-28T12:44:00.000-05:00

Hello!!! It's been soooo busy with the kids back to school. I'm border line overwhelmed. My fall shows are over until the end of November. Yeah!!! I sent the jewelry to the gallery in Wilmington, NC and I just got into the gift shop at The Sports Club/LA in Boston at the Ritz Carlton Hotel!!! Woo Hooo. I now have to concentrate on getting my pieces together for the show at the gallery in California. Busy, busy, busy!!!!!! Ciao!!!!

2005-09-08T06:18:00.000-05:00

Whew, it's been awhile. School started and so are the shows. I have a Fine Art show in Lincoln, MA this Sunday that I've been getting ready for.

I was contacted by a gallery in North Carolina last week and they want to carry my jewelry. Sent those items out last week. Fingers crossed that they do well. I'm still ramping up for the gallery showing in California in november.
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My Vintage necklace is being featured this week on Fashion Fling http://www.fashionfling.com/ffling.php Yeah!!!!

The breast cancer jewelry has generated over $300 so far. I just wrote a check to the American Cancer Society. I'm so glad I can help.

I donated a necklace to Crafters United to help the hurricane victims. Take a look at this wonderful collaboration. http://www.crafterrevolution.etsy.com The show I'm doing this Sunday I'm going to be donating 10% of purchases to the hurrican victims.

Leanne

2005-08-09T16:32:00.000-05:00

I am going to participate in the jewelry show at the L.J. Singer Collections Gallery in Palm Springs, CA; which will take place in November of this year. 15 jewelry artisans were asked to participate. I believe 14 are doing it. I'm hoping it will be a rewarding experience. I have until October to design and send my pieces for the show.

2005-08-04T09:41:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile. Busy, busy, busy!!! I have great news!!! I just got invited to participate in a gallery showing in November at the L. J. Singer Collection gallery in Palm Springs, CA!!! Yeah!!!! I have to get working now on the items to send. All those really artsy designs that I've put off will now have a chance to blossom.

Leanne

2005-07-25T09:46:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited I've made some woven rings. Here they are. I oxidized one and left the others shiny. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback already from just wearing them, and a couple of "Oh when are you going to sell those". I LOVE making different pieces.

2005-07-25T09:43:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got around to taking a picture of the pieces I made in Seattle.

2005-07-18T14:17:00.000-05:00

I'm back. It was great. I took classes from Jeannette Cook, Kriss Silva, Lisa Claxton and Natalie Cohen. I picked up some great little helps. My friend and I actually got to help teach one of the classes!! I'll be posting pictures of the pieces I made soon.

2005-07-13T11:44:00.000-05:00

Yeah! I'm off, all packed and ready to go. Very nervous, but excited too.

2005-07-12T12:01:00.000-05:00

Well, tomorrow I'll be leaving to take some jewelry design classes in Seattle Washington. I'm excited to learn some new techniques. I'll make sure to post pictures of the results when I get back. The Puget Sound Bead Festival is being held at the same time, so hopefully I'll find some new and unique beads to add to my designs. I'm always on the look out for something that is out of the ordinary. The last really interesting bead I got was a freeform boro bead that became the center piece of "Mermaid"; which can be seen on my necklace page http://www.piecesofclass.net/Necklaces.html I've gotten a lot of great feedback on that piece. I think it's because the bead is beautiful.

Come back in a few days to see if I found anything interesting in my travels to Seattle.

Leanne

2005-07-11T19:31:00.000-05:00

2005-07-11T16:59:00.000-05:00

Hello!!! This is my first blog. I'm a jewelry artisan and have been designing unique pieces of jewelry for about 4 years now. I have a website; which is always a work in progress. It can be found at http://www.piecesofclass.net

I love chain work. I like to pair gemstones and pearls with chain maille and viking knitting into unique pieces of jewelry. Of course I also do less than unique pieces :) but I like to do the more unique pieces the most.

I've also started a new line of jewelry to help a friend support her best friend who is recovering from breast cancer surgery. This new line of jewelry is called Lorelle's Gift and can be found on my website at http://www.piecesofclass.net/LorellesDream.html please take a look. To start the fund off I'm donating 40% of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in Lorelle's name.

Leanne