Jewelry Report

I tend to be instantly attracted to jewelry that is a polar opposite of my own designs.  I work a lot in delicate designs with pearl and crystals,  so I loved the hammered metal and bold shapes of Deb Soromenho's designs at A.W.E. Handcrafted Jewelry.  She describes her work as "a sort of modern bohemian" and "is artistic and earthy with a worldly flair and an environmental lean".  Here she answers some questions for our Jewelry Report interview this week.  Check back tomorrow for Part 2. Read more

See Your Jewelry In The NewsDid that title get your attention?  I thought it might!  The good news is that I wasn't just bluffing to get you to read the article,  I really am going to list some ways to get free advertising for your jewelry.  The bad news is that there is no such a thing as a free lunch, and you will have to give a little to get something in return.  However, compared to the hundreds of dollars that it would cost you for equivalent publicity, a few sample giveaways and hours of effort can have a huge pay off.  So without further ado, here are some of my tried and tested ways to get your jewelry some free column inches.

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A rough diamond the size of a large egg was sold this week for over 35 million dollars. The huge stone, named the Cullinan Heritage, broke records for fetching the highest price ever for a rough diamond, and was bought by a privately owned jewelery company in Hong Kong. The massive price tag was commanded due to the diamond's high quality, size and exceptional color and clarity. Read more

Beetle Wing Earrings by Purple ShinyBetween the credit crunch, the rising silver prices and the ever increasing need to design jewelry that stands out from the crowd, more and more jewelers are getting creative and turning to some pretty unusual places to find new materials to inspire them.  Someone once said that art was a form of alchemy, taking base materials and transforming them into something that was greater than the sum of it's parts.  Read more

Social media is a great marketing tool.  Not only is it basically free, but it is easy to get started and widely accessible.  The trouble is that because of this low investment many companies have leaped onto the bandwagon without thinking through a proper strategy in the way that they might with any other form of marketing campaign.  (I know I have been promising to do a series of Social Media How To articles for jewelers for ages, and I apologize for the delay in getting these published for you.  Rest assured these are in the works and should start appearing soon.) Read more

DiorissimoDetailed, bold and visually compelling, its no surprise that Peggy Sturman from MSturman Jewellery reveals that she is mostly influenced by the colors, shapes and textures she sees in the world around her.  Here she shares more insights into her designs in our Jewelry Report Interview.

Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration is in everything I see all around me.  I am very impacted by visual events.  I go to Tucson each February to teach and to shop and am always captivated by the forms, light and colors of the mountains and deserts. Ansel Adams called it the practice of “careful seeing” but I am rather profligate in my seeing, rather than careful. Read more

This week I tracked down the winner of the Rio Grande competition.  The lucky designer, from Sabushka Design in Australia scooped one of two top prize of $5,000!  I wonder how he will spend it? Read more

If you only make one type of finding from scratch, making your own headpins can not only save you time and money, but add an extra layer of design possibilities to your work.  Here is one video to show you how to make your own headpins from wire.

This week our jewelry interview is with the designer behind the luscious creations of Signature Design by LaNorma.  Featuring huge gemstones, bold color combinations and a wide array of techniques, her collections are varied and fascinating.

How did you first get into jewelry art?   Designing and creating jewelry started as a creative outlet from my corporate profession of federal contracting.  In my spare time, I would travel to various bead events and take jewelry classes. Read more

If your business is just surviving rather than thriving, after the particularly harsh economic climes of 2009 then now is an ideal time to look at ways to bolster your profit margins.  Every little helps, and you might be surprised at how much you can save with just a few tricks. 

Check the DealsKeep an eye out for special offers and discounts available.  DON'T be tricked into buying something that you don't need just because it is cheap, but DO be a savvy shopper when it comes to purchases that you make.  Shop around for different quotes on payment processing, insurance, machinery and any other products or services that you use.  Small percentages can make a big difference, as can payment terms, so break out your calculator and look at the big picture to see how much you could save over the course of a year. Read more