Loren Damewood DVD is available!!!!

At long last...the Loren Damewood DVD is available!!!!

They are two-disk sets (because there's just too much material to fit on one) and can be ordered directly from hiswebsite:http://www.golden-knots.com/kits_tools_order.html

The cost is $40 plus $5 shipping.

There are also a number of really great kits for doing some of the fun things the Loren teaches. Each kit will consist of a specialized fixture created specifically for the purpose of tying a particular knot, and the bare minumum of tools required for its use in that task, along with printed instructions. Some of those tools are off-the-shelf items, available everywhere, but they are provided to make sure you're ready to go as soon as it shows up. Kits come with some copper wire to practice with.

http://www.golden-knots.com/

In 12 separate contests, one each month through 2009, covering every important category, National Jeweler's Best of Awards will recognize our industry's most outstanding jewelry design and retailer marketing.

Check the monthly schedule below to determine which monthly contests you should enter.

Don't miss your chance to be recognized as our industry's best in your area of specialty! Once entries are in, voting will open to industry members to determine industry's choice winners. In addition, an expert panel of judges will determine overall winners for prizes as outlined below.

A $50 application fee applies for each entry submitted.

Prizes:

Judge's Pick - One winner will be chosen in each of the 12 monthly contests and will receive:
Mention in a 4/c ad in National Jeweler magazine
Editorial announcement in National Jeweler magazine
Editorial announcement on NationalJeweler.com and the Daily News newsletter
Showcased on NationalJeweler.com

People's choice - Recognition along with the category winners

Monthly Award Categories:

January - Print Advertising

February - Colored Stone Jewelry

March - Online Advertising

April - Silver

May - Outdoor Advertising

June - Gold Jewelry
July - Platinum Jewelry

August - Direct Mail Advertising

September - Diamond and Bridal Jewelry

October - Radio Advertising

November - Watches

December - TV Advertising

Judges - Editorial, creative and marketing experts in the field will review and judge entries. Judges for 2009:

Design
Victoria Gomelsky, Couture International Jeweler
Lorraine DePasque, National Jeweler
Amanda Gizzi, Jewelry Information Center

Marketing
Ellen Fruchtman, Fruchtman Marketing
Ellie Parpis, Adweek
Whitney Sielaff, National Jeweler

Enter today and win! http://njn.nielsencontests.com/bin/Register

Elemental My Dear...from Stringing Magazine

from Stringing Magazine comes a new challenge (earth, air, fire, water) Vote for your favorite at: http://www.stringingmagazine.com

Elemental, My Dear
(earth, air, fire, and water)
Stringing Challenge Gallery

• About the challenge: The challenge theme was "Elemental, My Dear (earth, air, fire, and water)" Stringing publishes stringing and simple wirework designs.
• Voting: Voting ends April 6, 2009.
• In the spirit of fairness and friendly competition, please vote only once and from only one e-mail address.

Maybe this will get your attention! A great example from Dori who chose water (ice) as her muse - her entry, named "Titanic's Bane" incorporates pearls, glass, silver and a magnificent lampwork focal by Crystal Gilbreath
http://crystalgld.com

Looking for a Gem & Jewelry Show Near You?

OK - the last thing I need is another blog to keep up!!!!

The lastest offering from "A Fly On The Wall" is GemShows at: http://gemshows.blogspot.com/

This is just a listing site - no reviews - just a monthly list of gem & jewelry shows. Shows range from huge International Shows - to - local Gem & Mineral Society offerings. I have also included a listing of Commercial Show Promoters so you can check on the shows in your neighborhood!

These are shows geared to professionals and hobbyists alike - but - for the most part will give you buying options NOT selling options - there are LOTS of sites that list selling venues already!

Feel free to leave info for any shows (as long as they meet the qualifications listed above) I may have missed in the comments...and I love new followers - and subscribers!

See you at one of the family of "A Fly On The Wall" Blogs:

The Daily Jewel http://dailyjewel.blogspot.com/

GemShows http://gemshows.blogspot.com/

Tucson Gem Show - Live! http://tucsongemshow.blogspot.com/

Jewelry & Gem Artisans http://jewelrygemartisans.blogspot.com/

A Fly On The Wall's Views and Reviews http://flyviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/

A Little Social Link Love!

Some of my favorite Social Networks:
Eons (for baby boomers): http://eons.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/
Flickr: http://flickr.com/
Friend Feed: http://friendfeed.com/
Linked In: http://linkedin.com/
MySpace: http://myspace.com/
Plaxo: http://plaxo.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
Vox: http://vox.com/
Xanga: http://xanga.com/
Yelp: http://yelp.com/

Fashion (it is important to keep up with current fashion trends if you are a jewelry designer):
StyleFeeder: http://www.stylefeeder.com/
StyleHive: http://www.stylehive.com/

Social Networks/Forums for Jewelers:
Yahoo Groups has a multitude of Jewelry oriented groups... from Beadingaholics (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Beadingaholics) which covers all media to Unique Wire Artists (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UniqueWireArtists) which specializes in wire wrapping to your local metalsmith guilds (here is my local Metal Arts Society - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MetalArtsSociety/). So take a minute to search Yahoo Groups for topics of interest to you!

ArtMetal: http://www.artmetal.com/
Crafster: http://www.craftster.org/
Deviant Art: http://www.deviantart.com/
IndiePublic: http://www.indiepublic.com/
Jewelry Artist Network: http://snipurl.com/dgr44 [www_doxallo_com]
Jewelry Geeks (formerly MetalChasers) http://www.jewelrygeeks.com/
Lapidary/Gemstone Forum from TaoGems: http://gemstone.smfforfree4.com/
My Handmade Registry: http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com/

Ning - is a network of social networks - you can search their networks or start your own...like Jewelry Artist Network: http://jewelryartistnetwork.ning.com/

Most sales sites have a forum:
Etsy http://www.etsy.com/
Artfire http://www.artfire.com/
1000Markets http://www.1000markets.com/


Your favorite magazines also have Forums and other "Community" resources like ArtJewelry: http://cs.artjewelrymag.com/artcs/

...and last but not least - the "mother" of all jeweler's forums - the Orchid Forum at Ganoksin http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/orchid.htm

Learn about making gold chains (Jewelry Television)

Have you done any chainmail or even just a simple two-in-one or two-in-two chain for a charm bracelet? Then you know how much work it is - and if you want soldered links - that could take a whole days work to complete a chain!!!!

So - how are those finished chains made that they can be sold at such reasonable prices?

I found this video on YouTube - it is a fairly quick overview from Jewelry Television.

DTC's 8th Annual Shining Light Awards

The launch of the eighth DTC Shining Light Awards Collection marked an historic occasion: for the first time ever, the competition was opened to South Africa’s neighbouring diamond producing countries - Namibia and Botswana, making the 2009 Shining Light Competition, one that is truly southern African.

This new collection is a statement of bold design expression - each piece captivates the imagination and beauty intrinsic to this prized gemstone. The overall winning piece of the eighth DTC Shining Light Diamond Design Awards Competition in South Africa was chosen for its contemporary minimalism and unique execution in design. Overall Winner, designer Bhekithemba Ngema, a 2008 Tshwane University of Technology graduate, created his ring using 18ct yellow gold and 725 diamonds with a total carat weight of 16 carats, provided by sponsor and DTC client, Schachter & Namdar.

First launched in 1996, the objective of the DTC Shining Light Awards has been to provide support for the future of the South African jewellery industry by helping to develop both technical and design skills of South African designers, as well as an ethos for South African jewellery design.