Bounty of Beads-Selection, Selection, Selection!

Brass Link Chain 6x3 14 Feet Length

If you make jewelry and you're looking for a vast selection and great prices http://BountyofBeads.etsy.com probably has some things you need.

In this Etsy store you'll find everything from acrylic to sterling silver!

I lucked out this past Monday and noticed that she just happened to have something I've had on my list to get that one of my regular suppliers was out of stock on; some copper washers in several different sizes. I bought every last lot she had for only around $15.00 and that will keep me stocked up on those for quite some time! I can hardly wait to get them and see what unique things I can make! I love copper.

As in the picture above she also carries brass for you brass die-hards who make the Vintaj style pieces of jewelry using filligree components and ephemeral and/or victorian type parts.

She carries Trinity Brass findings; (Click below to see her whole selection).

Trinity Brass Vintage Patina Lily Bracelet Link

One of her specialties is her hand-wrapped Dangle Charm Drops

(Click on the picture below to see her whole selection of those).

6 Piece Emerald Green Dangle Drops

The crisp color contrast between the gold-plated beadcaps and the faceted crystal in this particular lot really pops!

What she is selling in a nut-shell is convenience. When your time = money that is very important! With these pre-made handcrafted dangles jewelry artists can cut down on production time and spend more of that time on the overall design and less on such tedious things as wrapping hundreds of links!

I don't make designs with tons of dangles very often because my fingers will ache to the bone afterwards. I don't know how she does so many of these without killing her hands, so my hat is off to her that she does this to save time for other artists!

If you check her shop periodically you will find some great values such as these good-sized 12mm x 8mm x 5mm Faceted Oval Smokey Topaz Beads

10 Pc Oval Faceted Smokey Topaz Beads

10 of these are only $5.80 and the quality is quite fine; no inclusions that I can see with the naked eye, and nice precise facets.

I addition to the above items, she has some very cute glass seahorses in a variety of colors, pearls, a sterling Aligator charm, and other things (I don't want to tell you everything or it will ruin the surprises).

Flirting with Wire

Flirting Around- $28.00
Hand-wrapped links of Sterling Silver and Amazonite, approx 8.5 inches, with a handmade clasp

Alicia Weeks of WyredOnWire does some very interesting wire-wrapping, for instance take a look at the construction of the piece above, Flirting Around which has several circles joined to a figure-8 link on either side of an Amazonite bead. There is a lot of activity in this bracelet.

The necklace below, Trijeweled makes a cage around several elongated oval beads, Citrine, Garnet, and Blue Topaz. It almost reminds me of pupae wrapped in an egg case or cocoon of some type.

Trijeweled-$32.00
Sterling silver, Citrine, Garnet and Blue Topaz. The pendant is aprox. 1.5" and the beaded chain is approx 18" in length

Sun Goddess-$14.00
Sterling silver chain and small Sunstone rhondelles, measures approx 7"

Entrapment uses an unusual link that almost looks like chickenwire bent in an upside-down V.

Entrapment- $15.00
Copper and silver links, approx 2.5" from the top of the ear wire to the longest point.

To see what else Alicia has available go to:
http://wyredonwire.etsy.com

and to read more about the artist, go to her blog:
http://wyredonwire.blogspot.com

The Elements of Style

Dawn Brandt of ElementsbyDawn has been selling her jewelry on Etsy since August 7, 2006, and loves geometric shapes with texture and pattern in them. Looking at her work one can tell that she incorporates circles into a lot of what she does, from Chainmaille to hammered textured cuffs and sterling, copper, and fine silver disks, to using round beads and chain. Experts have said that the round form is a shape humans are naturally drawn to, so if this is any indicator Dawn’s future will be bright.

When asked what techniques she would like to learn she said, “I’d like to be able to add more color, and thus some more dimension to my designs. Enameling, resin, and Prismacolor colored pencil are a few of the materials I’d like to incorporate into my designs. I’ve dabbled with Prismacolor, but haven’t perfected the technique yet.” Dawn describes it as a technique that blends the traditional methods of painting on canvas and coloring/drawing on metal. There are two ways to accomplish the results. One involves sandblasting the metal to give it "tooth" (which is not the method she does), and the other uses gesso; the method she uses. Then to prevent the surface from weathering over time and the color from coming off she uses an acrylic sealer.

Dawn is currently working on a collection due for release in the Summer of 2008. It will feature colorful vintage glass, vintage Swarovski crystal, and vintage Lucite.

Among the trade magazines she subscribes to are The Crafts Report, Art Jewelry, and Art Calendar. The Crafts Report has many useful articles on the business of crafting, Art Jewelry Magazine helps keep her abreast on new techniques and emerging artists, and Art Calendar keeps informed on national and local arts and craft shows.

For anyone just starting out in the jewelry crafting business or even just thinking about transforming a hobby into a bona fide business, she recommends the book Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry by Viki Lareau. This easy to read book covers many of the basic aspects of starting out in the crafting business.

If metalsmithing is your interest, The Complete Metalsmith – Pro Version by Tim McCreight is invaluable!

The book Dawn is currently reading is, How to Photograph Absolutely Everything by Tom Ang. “I am hoping to improve my photography skills, as product photography can really help or hinder your success in an online environment.”

Dawn belongs to The Art Jewelry Collective, WIST (a local Wisconsin street team), and will be exhibiting at the ART vs CRAFT show on December 8th in Milwaukee.

This artist accepts Checks, Money Orders, and accepts credit cards through both PayPal and ProPay. She also sends out a quarterly newsletter for those customers who would like to be notified when new pieces are available for sale.

Be sure to check out her whole collection at http://elementsbydawn.etsy.com/