Etsy Designer on the Red Carpet!!!

People always ask me "How can anyone find MY jewelry when there are sooooo many artisan jewelers on Etsy?"

The answer is - find your NICHE! Create your own niche in the market by using keywords and phrases to create a highly focused internet marketing term or product.

The following info just posted to the Etsy Blogs at: http://snipurl.com/cpdbs [www_etsy_com]

We have all heard the story of Loki, Mickey Rourke's 18 year old Chihuahua who died just before the Independant Spirit Awards last week.

The Raw Story quotes Mickey as saying he would rather have Loki for another two years than an Oscar!

"The 56-year-old former wildman wore a cream Jean-Paul Gaultier tuxedo and an open-necked shirt that displayed a necklace bearing a photo of his long-time pooch of 18 years, Loki.

"She's the love of my life. She made it until six days ago. She left me at a time where after 18 years she knew I'd be alright," said Rourke, a best actor nominee for his portrayal of a washed-up prizefighter in "The Wrestler."

"It's bittersweet. I said to myself I'd rather have Loki for another two years than an Oscar. And I told her that. But she stayed as long as she could you know," he added."

http://snipurl.com/cpdug [rawstory_com]

That darling image of Loki around Mickey's neck? It came from the Etsy shop of wickedworld !

Apparently another Etsian reported the loss on one of the Etsy forums - that thought came to fruition in a sweet portrait pendant of Loki!

So - by creating a niche item - nothing else you make has to be memorial jewelry - but that one piece will bring everything you make to the public eye!

WickedWorld's Shop is at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5073675

Other Memorial Pet Jewelry on Etsy: http://snipurl.com/cpehx [www_etsy_com]

Oscar Color Story - White Rules!

Whether in sleek architectural styles...

...or Wedding Cake Topping Princess Gowns...White ruled the Red Carpet!

There was the obligitory Black and for the most part it was done well...

But - for those who dared the trend to Black & White really made the rare bits of color POP!

Good...Bad or just for fun...this was a black & white affair!

The Amber Room - 8th Wonder of the World

Info for this post is from the Smithsonsian article by Jess Blumberg

Dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the room that once symbolized peace was stolen by Nazis then disappeared for good.

While many Americans associate amber with the casing for dinosaur DNA in 1993's Jurassic Park, the stone has enthralled Europeans, and especially Russians, for centuries because of the golden, jewel-encrusted Amber Room, which was made of several tons of the gemstone. A gift to Peter the Great in 1716 celebrating peace between Russia and Prussia, the room's fate became anything but peaceful: Nazis looted it during World War II, and in the final months of the war, the amber panels, which had been packed away in crates, disappeared. A replica was completed in 2003, but the contents of the original, dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World," have remained missing for decades.

Interested in the whole story? http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/world-history/brief_amber.html

Timothy Meier - Innovator

Tim Meier came to the attention of jewelry enthusiasts in 2007 with his inclusion in the exclusive "Best In Show" listing by JCK magazine following the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show.

Always questioning, always striving to understand...a little bit from his website: http://www.timothymeier.com

The Artist

(BTW - this is one of the best "Artist Statements" I've read)

The strength of bones is dictated by the engineering that human beings are unable to replicate. Perfectly adapted to their application. What would be the simplest , most effective way to wrap a finger in metal? What is the most comfortable and appealing necklace that is possible to make? Seashells are formed in a perfect spiral unbeknownst to the mollusk that is forming it one layer of calcium carbonate at a time. for more go to http://www.timothymeier.com/TheArtist.aspx

"It's all about getting people in touch with the primal human urge to make one's self more attractive by decoration. I'm just caught up in the concept that jewelry is culturally universal, and accessible to people on every continent."

Ellipse_________

All of my forms are a discussion in the definition of space. I like to think that my carved forms are something that would spontaneously happen in nature. Each individual piece is delicate, even feminine, and then together the chain becomes tough and masculine. I love that transition that a piece makes from concept to reality.

_______________

The Vision

In America today, 63 percent of women say that they think fine-jewelry on men is sexy and 74 percent of women have purchased jewelry for a man. Why are men being forgotten in commercial jewelry markets? Men who see the Timothy Meier collection of mens jewelry will feel compelled to decorate themselves. Decoration is not something reserved for the fairer sex. There is nothing effeminate about a 4-ounce chain of blackened Sterling silver.

His innovative "Vertabrae" series has won him international acclaim - and I have to say I am a huge fan. Individually carved links - hand cast and hand assembled - available in Sterling, Stainless Steel, and now he has started working in Platinum!

Vertebrae_________

This is the genesis of a number of ideas. Bones have a repulsive/ alluring charm. Whether you are a hard line creationist, or a Darwinian scholar, there is no argument over the miracle of the engineering behind bones. On a trip to West Africa, I noticed bead vendors in the Abidjan market selling snake vertebrae all strung up as jewelry. I was mystified, and rather repulsed. These were the coolest shapes I had ever seen, and I wanted very badly in a primal sort of way to decorate myself in these tribal ornaments. (Without having a dead snake around my neck) Unleash your tribal warrior...

_________________

What is Gemecology?

Gemecology - Gems & Ecology: balancing the benefits and the costs!

About Gemecology

Gems and the Environment is a project of Saleem H. Ali, Ph.D. and Sally Dickinson DeLeon conducted with generous support from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and several research collaborators. We hope that the site will serve as an educational resource for those interested in improving the living conditions and quality of life of artisinal miners around the globe.

An "artisinal miner" is that little guy - the independant miner that is not operating with the backing of a larger corporate sponsor.

This site teaches about the people, places, and processes of colored gemstone mining around the world. Think about how the ancient practice of artisinal mining interacts with complex ecological and social webs in some of the places where the earth produces amazing pockets of rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Watch their Featured Film "The Emerald City" from Google Video for an overview of the methods of extracting gems from the earth!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-866649985079290432&hl=en

9 'gotta have it' fashion trends for spring

There's no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with a new wardrobe.

It's safe to say that all women love fashion and there are some trends that are coming for next season you are going to love!

Ken Downing, Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus says its easy to welcome the new season into your wardrobe if you bring the following nine fashion trends for spring into your closet.

1. Downing says PINK is hot in shade for spring. Its the most powerful color in fashion. Wear it with coral for a combination that says "Spring 2009."

2. ONE SHOULDER-DRESSING. According to Downing, shoulders bared themselves on every catwalk, from Paris to New York City.

3. SNAKESKIN ACCESSORIES will also be hot says Downing. Be it a shoe or a handbag, the real deal or a print - reptilian motifs are a must.

4. Downing also says STATEMENT SHOES will create a buzz. You can create excitement from head to toe in sky-high stilettos and sandals with subtle aggression.

5. RUFFLES. According to Downing, these feminine flourishes bring romanticism to skirts, tops and dresses.

6. A Place for everything, and everything in its place. CARRYALLS are big next season. Downing says unstructured handbags are the right pairing for a free-spirited look,

7. COLORFUL CARDIGANS. Downing says consider it the new jacket. This wardrobe essential adds polish to dresses and separates.

8. GRAPHICS. According to Downing graphics are fashion geometry you can understand. Vivid, optic prints are everywhere.

9. Whether turquoise stones are pink and color gems - BOLD JEWELRY is a hot new trend. These statement makers complement bright colors and patterns.

Now start at one and dress yourself to the nines!

...as reported by ABC15.com on 2/11/09 10:52 am

http://snipurl.com/bsht9 [www_abc15_com]

A good friend of mine recently received a strand of hand cut damale turquoise beads for her birthday. They impressed me to the point that I wanted to know more about this specific turquoise deposit.

From the Turqouise Mines of Nevada website:

DAMALE - VARISCITE / FAUSTITE & PAIUTE - TURQUOISE

The Damale mine is located 30 miles east of Austin, Nevada on the east side of Damele Mountain at the south east end of the Simpson Park Range. The site is about a mile southwest of the Dry Creek (Godber) mine. Damale turquoise is distinctive because of the unusual colors the gems in a yellow-green to bright mint green with excellent hardness. The Damele deposit produces very little material of the standard blue colors most people commonly associate with turquoise. Mineralogically, most of the material produced here is likely Variscite, Chalcosiderite or possibly Faustite. The mine consists of a single medium sized open pit excavation. The adjoining Paiute turquoise deposit shares the same hill with the Godber mine, produces material of a standard good blue color. The Damale material is mostly in nugget form, with a webbing consisting of a dark brown to black matrix. Its availability is limited because the mine is fairly small and considerable laying back of the steep pit walls will be required for further production. The mine is worked only sporadically by the owner on a small scale. Due to its rare, bright and attractive colors, Damale is considered a collectible gemstone.

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/Nevada_turq_mines/turquoise_mines_of_nevada.htm

These particular beads were hand cut by Artisan Jeweler William Murdoch...a rock hound and a professional bead and cabochon maker. He put together a pictorial documentary on his process for the "Ask Szarka" blog. He walks through the process of making a natural Ithaca Peak rondelle necklace. Check this article out and all the fun stuff on the Ask Szarka blog http://askszarka.blogspot.com/

Of course now you've seen the original stones that started this journey so now I need to show you what the lovely Szarka did with them...

You can find more of Szarka's handiwork at http://www.szarkas.com

...she is also one of the most trusted gem and bead slingers online: Magpie Gemstones http://www.magpiegemstones.com