Private Stock Jewelry Studio

Millie has got Rocks on Sale!

2011-09-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

Up to 50% OFF!!! whoohoo

She's even got Malachite on sale!!

(Don't tell her I told you but she said she's going to add more sale items very soon so check the site often, but please don't tell her I told you)

Tips for Choosing Your Engagement Ring

2011-06-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

by Jessica Carter

Every year we see a new engagement ring trend. We have seen everything from vintage engagements rings, to princess cut diamond engagement rings. This year, however, is the year of the fancy diamond and other gemstones. This is thanks, in large part to Kate Middleton, who has been donning her beautiful blue sapphire engagement ring. Just follow these tips and you will be able to choose the perfect center stone for your ring without so much as hiccup.

1. Color: when choosing a ring that involves color, it is important to keep the person who will be wearing it in mind. If your fiancé to be is not into bright colors, you might want to opt for something like a light pink or yellow, as opposed to a bright red or green.

2. Durability: diamonds are a girl’s best friend in part because they are the strongest natural material on earth. Not all gemstones are as strong, pearls for example chip quite easily and are not ideal for a center stone. Do a quick check on the internet or with a jeweler once you’ve chosen a stone to make sure that it is durable and strong.

3. Availability: when choosing a stone, making sure that the stone you want is widely available. Although fancy diamonds are increasing in popularity, their availability is not so widespread. This means that depending on what color you are searching for and what price range you have, you could have trouble finding the perfect center stone for your ring.

Have fun! Picking out an engagement ring is fun, picking out a colorful engagement ring is extra fun, so enjoy!

Jessica Carter has been in the jewelry industry for quite a while now, writing for http://www.diamondpriceguide.com/ as well as many other jewelry related sites on the web,

and now she has her own site, http://www.diamondclarity.info/, which is her area of expertise.

The Jewelry Trend?

2011-04-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

The more I read about jewelry trends the more I question the authority by which that news is written. In New York, big color, big size, big money appears to be an on-going trend. The problem I see with that is first, not all of us like NY trends.

I just read an article about how New Yorkers are always (with emphasis on always) in style. I’m not trying to alienate New Yorkers but I don’t feel that is the fair representation of the vast majority of jewelry fashion today. Ok, so if I live in the Midwest and I go out to the theater and wear a necklace that weighs more than I do, am I in style? Or do I want more sparkle hanging around my wrist than the chandelier?

As we are all individuals with individual taste a more practical attitude would seem appropriate from those reporting news about what the jewelry market trends are. After all there are thousands living in “small town” America.

Ok, what about a city like Portland, Oregon? The down to earth “keep Portland weird” types can be trendy, upscale and fashion conscious. What Portlanders seem to appreciate more is the handcrafted wearable art and less is more types.

I have a habit of looking for what jewelry is being warn when I watch TV and I guarantee you that it isn’t that “in your face” or “look what I’m wearing” kind of jewelry. Oh sure, there is a couple of hosts that wear that type of jewelry but it isn’t the majority by any means.

I’d really like to see jewelry news report what is happening rather than being the advertiser for high end, runway type jewelry. I’d like to see HSN admit that their “one of a kind” jewelry piece has 10,000 replicas sitting in their warehouse waiting to be shipped!

I think all of us who are self-representing home based jewelers should start our own, on-line jewelry news publication.

Rita Juhlin

Hmmmmm. . . . .

2011-03-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

This bamboo is home to a couple of my humming bird friends. Somehow they manage to hang around all winter long with the aide of a feeder. Although it doesn't freeze often here in Portland OR it does freeze once and awhile so the feeder is brought in over night and put out, promptly, in the morning.

Apparently the bamboo is dense enough to keep the birds fairly dry and makes a good wind break as well. It is amazing how close they come to me, sometimes only a foot away. I'm sure they are making sure their food is safe.

Buy these at Overstocked with Rocks

2011-02-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

Shipping only $2.50 for orders under $20.00 and FREE shipping on orders $20.00 and over. Can't hardly beat that, great customer service too. Tell Millie, Rita sent you!!

Senior Geezer sends Oregon Senator Great Proposal

2011-02-19T18:58:00.000-08:00

I think I would vote for this!!

Let's put the seniors in jail and the criminals in nursing homes.

Here is the reasons:
This would correct two things in one motion:
Seniors would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
They would receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical
treatment, wheel chairs, etc.
They would receive money instead of having to pay it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped instantly... if they fell or needed assistance.
Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes.
They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room, spiritual counseling, a pool and education...and free admission to in-house concerts by nationally recognized entertainment artists.
Simple clothing - ie. shoes, slippers, pj's - and legal aid would be free, upon request.
There would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor exercise yard complete with gardens.
Each senior would have a P.C., T.V., phone and radio in their room at no cost.
They would receive daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors to hear any complaints and the ACLU would fight for their rights and protection.
The guards would have a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to, with attorneys available, at no charge to protect the seniors and their families from abuse or neglect.

As for the criminals:

They would receive cold food.
They would be left alone and unsupervised.
They would receive showers once a week.
They would live in tiny rooms, for which they would have to pay $5,000 per month.
They would have no hope of ever getting out.

Does that sound like justice to you?

Going Wireless

2011-02-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

For an old broad, it only took me an hour and I'm wireless, whoo hoo. I've been fighting it but, with wifi everywhere I go; it was time. I was thrilled to be able to check my email and check web sites.

It wasn't exactly rocket science because the operating systems do it for you. I did loose my signal once but it turned out to one of my USB 's isn't working properly. Oh well, probably time for a lap top. LOL.

My Prayer for the New Year

2011-01-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

This year I'd like to have a fat bank account and a slim body.

Please don't get them mixed up like you did last year.

AMEN

I love Malachaite and . . .

2010-11-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

Millie just listed these incredible focal pendant beads, ahhhhhhhhhh. . . . . .

Malachite

plus more selections, WOW!

Overstocked with Rocks

Millie's GotRocks4Sale.com Malachite is on Gallery One (scroll down a ways)

Meet my neighbors

2010-11-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I know spying on my neighbors is not really right but, it

is really cheap entertainment. I missed the shot when the

wind blew really hard and the squirrel fell into the feeder.

He sat there for a moment, I was laughing so hard I missed

the shot. He didn't have any trouble getting out.

No squirrels were hurt while filming!

Millie Posted a whole page of. . . .

2010-10-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

Turquoise, I love turquoise and great prices too! Whoohoo! GotRocks4sale.com

Cabochons and Focal Beads

On Sale?

2010-09-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

If you are like me you signed up for several newsletters to keep up on what’s new with an on line business, for me that’s jewelry making news. Are you as disappointed as I am? News, I think not. All I seem to get is barraged with announcements of another sale.

But are those sales a “good buy”? I don’t think so. Realistically I would say that those products are so over priced that even the on sale price isn’t really a sale price. I mean really, 10% for this or that can easily be understood as a sale price. But when you see 30% off consistently, I’m thinking that the regular price must be way over priced.

Wouldn’t it be nice if shop owners didn’t consider us as idiots? I mean really, price the merchandise at a fair mark up price on a regular basis and forget sending me daily and weekly sale emails, enough already! These sales are marketing gone bad, period.

For the number of regular and frequent “On Sale Now” emails I am getting, business must be really bad for those shops. Or, have those shop owners bought into the SEO’s email marketing sham; "how to drive traffic to your sight for only $ x@!!.oo

So what happened to the “news” letter I signed up for? Is venting the same as being negative? LOL.

Do You Have a Jewelry Box Personality?

2010-09-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

All those precious jewels need to be contained. The question is what kind of jewelry box are you looking for? Do you want traditional, modern, classic, or contemporary? I guess it can all come down to your personal taste. Are you the type to cherish a traditional piece handed down from your great grandmother or are you running to the nearest store to purchase the latest design?

If you are one of those ladies looking for the most recent jewelry box design than a contemporary piece may be right for you. A contemporary box is not the same jewelry box your mother used. It is a reflection of you.

You are a follower of contemporary design then you are always searching for the latest and greatest furniture, car, accessories, clothing, and more. You are looking for the latest technology and best appliances everyday. Now, you need the latest contraption to hold all of your modern, yet elegant jewelry.

If you need the latest jewelry box to hold all of your precious new jewels then you should shop from the mini list below.

Mini Leather Jewelry Cases

If you are a girl on the go, a mini leather jewelry case could be right for you. A mini leather jewelry case can easily slip into your oversized satchel or overnight bag. You can store some of your most precious “everyday” pieces and a few evening wear additions. We are not talking about your classic fabric made traveling jewelry roll. The contemporary mini leather jewelry case is a modern travel accessory.

Armoire Jewelry Chest

Some women just need a lot of space for their jewels. A contemporary armoire jewelry chest can be the answer. These pieces stand upright and can be built with 5 or more drawers. You can easily store all of your precious necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, and more. The size also can make it extremely easy to separate and organize all of these categories.

Jewelry Box in Disguise

Sometimes you don’t want your jewelry box to look like a jewelry box! Today, you can find a wide variety of contemporary jewelry boxes that look like simple storage pieces, a book, or even a brightly colored leather box. You don’t have to purchase a piece that was solely designed to hold jewelry. Sometimes half the fun is finding a large container at your home good store or flea market that you can transform into a jewelry box.

Custom Designs

What can be more modern than a freshly designed jewelry box?! You can pick the features, the size, the wood or leather, and just about everything you want. Today, you can even find jewelry boxes that have automatic shelves. Live it up and make it your own! If you want a jewelry box that only stores rings, then create one! Maybe you are looking for a new piece to store all of your necklaces or you want a box that stores bracelets only. No matter what type of jewelry box you desire, you can create that contemporary and modern piece.

One Recommendation for relaxing!

2010-08-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.

If you can't eat it or play with it,
Just wizz on it and walk away.

Jewelry Making: Random Picked vs. Hand Picked Cabochons and Focal Beads

2010-08-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Thoughts about buying Cabochons, Focal Beads and Strung Beads for New Jewelry Designers

Random Picked vs. Hand Picked

Not all suppliers are created equal. Granted some suppliers are better at some things than others. I'm sure everyone strives for great customer service but that's not the issue of this article.

What does random pick mean? Basically, you see something on aweb site you want, the picture is phenomenal, and you buy it. When the cabochon or the focal bead arrives you are disappointed sometimes very disappointed. Larger suppliers don't take a picture of every cabochon or focal bead they sell. They have bins full of stones and they just randomly pick one to send you.

Look for "What you see is what you get" better known to some as WYSIWYG.

In most cases if you see "Natural Stone" you are not going to be able to buy two of anything. The exception is when a person cutting the stone is able to cut it in half for a "matched pair" but then it will be listed as such.

In the event that you can buy as many of the "same identical" stone as you want, the stone is probably man-made or synthetic; in addition to "cheap"; and probably looks cheap.

Smaller more personalized on-line stores selling cabochons either choose their own stock piece by piece or perhaps they are creating their own cabochons with lapidary equipment. Either way you will know what you are getting.

There is one more point to consider about choosing stones for jewelry making and that is color. Your monitor may not be set to true color or the seller has enhanced the pictures with computer software to enhance the color. It's not always easy to take a perfect picture and other than perhaps some Ebay products, most on-line store try very hard to provide accurate pictures.

A couple years ago I personally have experienced a "bad deal" on ebay. The cabochon appeared to be absolutely beautiful; I bought it and when cabochon arrived what a let down. Oh, it was the same cabochon that what pictured, but something looked odd. I flipped the stone , or what I thought was a stone, and scratched the surface with a pick. Hmmm, it peeled a substance that appeared to be some sort of plastic.

Well, you get what you pay for and it wasn't worth the expense of postage back to Hong Kong. Yes, I contacted the seller and he profusely denied there could be any such problem.

It is very important to understand what you are buying. Read the description and look for key words that describe the stone; not just fancy names and over the top statements.

Add your own opinion!

Rita Juhlin
Private Stock Jewelry

How about Green Onyx Pendant and Earrings!!

2010-07-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Check these out!!

Talk about going green!! LOL

You can purchase this yummy - gemmy show stopper duo at Overstocked with Rocks

Keeping Jewelry Beautiful

2010-07-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Every now and then a great find happens - check this out - I have a bit of a fetish for boxes, yes since I was a child. Now that I'm older, I still have the same fetish but for different reasons and the boxes aren't cardboard anymore and they don't keep my crayons tidy.

Jewelry Boxes

Great Boxes - Great Prices

Promote Yourself!

2010-06-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

You are invitee to join the top with jewelry sites: http://www.alljewelrysites.com

The top have a friendly interface and it offers free web promotion for your site.
You can find:
-title and description;
- screenshot of your website
-statistics about the number of your visitors(unique/pageviews);
-comments about your site;
-the ranking is by sites unique visitors in a week;
-first 5 sites are scrolling in the right side of the site on all site pages;
-7 sites are selected random and showed on the header slideshow of the site;
-statistics with the visitors you got from our top;
After you join the top take the voting code and put in your site
to be accepted to the site.
They will be expecting you at http://www.alljewelrysites.com to subscribe your
site.

A great place for self representing jewelry artists and designers - go here:

OMG - Look at the color!!!

2010-05-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

New 05.22.10 Larimar - OMG!!!

High Quality Gemstones at Ovestocked with Rocks, Yummm

Amethyst and Amertine

Love those Blues!

Swiss Blue and London Blue Topaz

Get 'em while there still available

Overstocked With Rocks

Moving on and Growing

2010-05-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

Private Stock Jewelry on line sales have been suspended due tothe fact that most of what is listed is now sold. New stock has been placed in Mystique Artisan Gallery at Pioneer Place, Downtown Portland and O'Shiny in Clackamas, OR. My new line of wedding jewelry will be announced in the coming weeks.

You are welcome to view my galleries at PrivateStockJewelry.com, check out sponsor sites or visit
my partner shops in Portland. Thank you all for your business and check back for new
announcements.

I am also in the process of learning new jewelry making skills and having a great time doing that too!

Rita Juhlin

In Loving Memory

2010-04-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

Mandy

April 27, 2010

My Protector

My Friend

Thank You

PopKiss NYC presents: 3 Fun Jewelry Tips To Try This Season!

2010-04-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

PopKiss NYC.com

The hottest jewelry trends for Spring/Summer 2010 will be bright colors and bold accessories. It seems these days, the bigger the accessory, the better! And of course we all like accessories that can transition from day to night. Here are three fun jewelry tips to try this season.

Color! The two most wanted colors this season are turquoise and coral. As a matter of fact, turquoise was just voted pantone color of the year! Combining qualities of blue and green, it is an accent color with both warm and cool undertones and pairs beautifully with any other color. Coral is an almost orange color with a hint of pink undertone and looks great paired with neutrals. These two colors are popping up everywhere, from jewelry, to shoes, and even clothing.

Cocktail rings! These large and dramatic rings became popular during the US prohibition at illegal cocktail parties. Who knew?! The most popular cocktail rings today are embellished with large precious or semi-precious stones. They are the best statement maker while holding your glass of champagne at that super hip rooftop party in the city! With so many types to choose from, stack up on a variety! They are even a great fashion statement during the day!

Unique handmade jewelry! Each day people are getting more and more creative with their jewelry and taking a step to be more daring in the accessory pieces that they wear. Women love to wear new and dramatic jewelry that is different from what everyone else is wearing. A great way to search for unique fashion jewelry is to check out handmade jewelry. This is where designers can get creative. We have also been seeing a lot of costume jewelry made from fabrics. It just shows that not all jewelry has to be made from the traditional materials.

For years, people have been asking us where we get our unique costume jewelry. So we finally decided to bring it to you! Popkiss was launched straight from the streets of New York. The designers, Anna & Julie Reinberg, bring you handmade fashion cuff bracelets. These t-shirt accessories are knitted by hand from jersey fabric. The designers have come up with a great way to recycle their "I love New York" t-shirts by cutting and reassembling them into cuff bracelets. The two-toned Pop Cuffs are the most popular and come in various colors. To view color combinations please visit the Popkiss website or request a combination of your own. These really set off an outfit and are easy to wear!

Order your Pop Cuffs and cocktail rings at Popkissnyc.com, join our facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/POPKISS-JEWELRY/108870982483716?ref=ts) or twitter us (twitter.com/POPKISSjewelry ) and make a statement this summer!

Thank You!

Lets get Orgnaized!!

2010-04-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

Free Tutorial and Video on Chain Maille Bracelet

2010-04-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

DIY Network: Great Video: Chain Maille Bracelet

Because I like to learn something new everyday, well almost everyday, I search for free tutorials on different techniques. This is a clear and easy way to start yourself on chain maille. I just made a similar bracelet, you would not believe what I went through to do the same thing. Believe me this is a great video!

This video is much more professional than what you will find, in most cases, on You Tube.

(Your Welcome) LOL

Free Tutorial and Video on Wire Wrapped Rings

2010-04-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

Video: Wire Wrapped Rings (DIY Production)

The video is good but incomplete, setting the stone is a bit tricky, make sure you get the stone tight. It's not quite as easy as it looks. The ring band itself should be wrapped to make it more sturdy, in my opinion.

Materials and Tools:

(My advise is to start out with copper or brass practice wire until you get the hang of it!)

3 ft. 22-gauge 14K/20 gold-filled 1/2-hard square wire
2 ft. 21-gauge 14K/20 gold-filled 1/2-round 1/2-hard wire
1 ring cab (1/2" wide x 1" long) [You can use any size, the smaller the stone, the harder the setting process]
ruler with millimeters
permanent marking pen
ring mandrel
pin vise
flush cutters
flat nose pliers
fine-blade knife

DIY about Making Enamel Beads

2010-04-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Make Your Own Enamel Beads

This is a good vido about making Enamel Beads, this also can be done to make colorful head pins, I've seen some and they quite pretty.

Creative Metal Arts Guild Show

2010-04-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

Free Admission

Check out the 2010 CMAG Jewelry and Metal Arts Show and Sale Participating Members

2010 Show Dates: APRIL 30, MAY 1 & 2

At The

Oregon Convention Center

In Beautiful Portland, Oregon

Significants of Wedding Rings

2010-03-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

This article was written by Elaine, who writes various articles on Fashion and Jewelry. This article is about Wedding Rings. She would love to hear from you at elainebrown1976@gmail.com

After choosing your life partner, the next thing isto find a wedding ring that is as nice as the person who is going to wear it for years to come. In the words of Louis K. Anspacher, marriage is that relation between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the independence mutual, and the obligation reciprocal.

As soon as you hear the term marriage, the thought of the wedding ring strikes your mind. Such is the emotional and sentimental value attached to the wedding ring. So, it is natural that you select an exclusive and above-the-ordinary model.

Go for a gold or platinum ringif you really wish your wedding ring to stand apart from the ordinary. Regarding the patterns, you can choose a ring with three interwoven rings, which are symbolic of the three Christian virtues of 'faith, hope and love'.

You hold your wife dear to your heart; gether an magnificent wedding ring with some really wonderful designs. You can bet that she will simply love your gift as it is no ordinary ring but a symbol of your eternal love and enduring marriage.

You can create a good impression by picking a ring with those designs she loves. There are rings with Floral designs, Interwoven ones, Handmade or Rolling, Two-Tone or Tri- Color designs.

Normally, a woman's wedding ring is slim and sleek than a man's. So, you can check with the jeweler if there are designs exclusively meant for women, say for example, designs such as the Comfort and Engraved rings. At the same time, if she likes to wear something exotic, go for a ring highlighting Medieval designs or Celtic themes.

How to Select the Best Wedding Band for your Marriage

Marriages are made in heaven and to make this day unforgettable in every person's life, certain traditions have been followed since ancient times. One of such customs is wearing a wedding band. The shine and glitter of the wedding bands remains the same even after the fun and gaiety of the marriage fades away, reminding you of the wedding vows of eternal love.

As wedding bands are very special to you, similar to wedding rings, you could wellchoose from the best in the market. Many leading stores offer you a wide range of wedding bands to pick from; for example, if you your jewels to be sparkling and showy, opt for a golden wedding band with a rosy-pink or yellow-gold shade. You can also opt a platinum band if you want to gift an exotic wedding gift to your partner.

Check if your partner loves stone-studded jewelry? Then, choosea band with bright and unique diamond stones. Eternity wedding bands are a perfect complement to your engagement or wedding ring.
To add more uniqueness to your wedding band, you can choose a common element for wedding bands. the designs may not match, you can choose the same metal for bands for both of you.

Once you have decided about the metal that the band should be made of, you just need to go toa popular and trustworthy jeweler. He would provide you with catalogs of awesome collections of wedding bands, such as Celtic or Trinity wedding bands, uniquely carved and designed to rightly make your wedding unforgettable and the most cherished memory of your lifetime

This guest post written by Elaine, who writes various articles on Fashion and Jewelry.

Check out this Deal

2010-02-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

I love Sales!!!!

Click HERE: Overstocked with Rocks

"Green" Etching for Jewelry without Acid

2010-02-23T21:38:00.000-08:00

There is a fabulous tutorial at http://www.making-jewelry-now.com/acid-etching-metal-jewelry-part-1.html by Virginia Vivier (Esprit Mystique Jewelry) using acid. The tutorial has great tips and techniques. This article is about using saltwater and a battery. If you dig a little you can find ‘how to’ information free of charge and that is what I did, or you can buy it from a popular magazine.
What you need:

Patience (this process takes longer than acid)
Safety Glasses and Rubber Gloves (strong salt solutions can burn)
D battery and a D battery holder
Alligator clips and heavy ga. copper wire
Copper to be etched and scrap copper
Kosher or canning and pickling salt
Glass container deep enough to hang your art piece
Resist

Resists Available: PNP blue paper (good info on this at: http://www.makersgallery.com/goss/pnp.html ) , nail polish (if you’re desperate), enamel paint, etc.

Hook up a D battery in the battery holder, attach alligator clips to the lead wires on your battery holder and then to the two pieces of copper wire to suspend the art piece and the scrap piece in a saltwater bath. Current draws copper from the piece being etched to the scrap copper. You can use the same kinds of resists you would use for acid etching. Red alligator clips on your jewelry/art piece. Put resist on the back of your art piece or etch a design on the back too.

Make a saturated salt solution by dissolving salt, (lot-o salt)

Clean your art piece and clean it again, alcohol works well.

Draw or transfer your design with whatever resist you want. The scrap copper needs to be cleaned off with a scruby pad to remove any residue, then it's ready.

Fill glass (I don’t like plastic) container with the salt solution, attach your two pieces of copper to copper wires and hang them from the sides of the container so they are submerged in the solution. Attach the positive alligator clip to the art piece etched and the negative clip to the scrap copper. You will see little bubbles rising from the scrap copper, and the water will become cloudy.

It takes an hour or more to get a nice deep etch (patience).

Disposal of used salt water, well I’m not convinced it’s a good idea to pour into the sink, there is copper in it. Maybe consider calling waste management services and double check with your area requirements.

Love those little Altoids Tins? Etching Altoids Tins: go to http://steampunkworkshop.com/altoid-etch.shtml

The fun of this is you can transfer virtually any image or pattern to copper, nickel, or brass.

Want more info? Search the web there is a lot of free information. Take some time and learn something new!! I welcome any comments and additions to this method of etching.

Half Persian 3 in 1

2010-02-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

Not the best video but you'll get the basics.

Fashion Week in Rio

2010-02-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

I just got to get a pair of these shorts, LOL,LOL,LOL

LOL,LOL,LOLLOL,LOL,LOLLOL,LOL,LOLLOL,LOL,LOL
Sorry, that was a really funny picture I got in my head.

Check out this Valentine Give Away!!

2010-02-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

Go to: GotRocks4Sale.com

Natural African Blood Stone

Dozens of Free Jewelry Making Tutorials

2010-01-31T11:01:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how to make something? Check this out, from wire wrapping to making components:
Go to: Wonder How To.com

Free Tutorial for Beaded Hoop Earrings

2010-01-08T21:02:00.001-08:00

Free Tut on some Colorful Ear Art with Threads

2010-01-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

This is fun: Win a Printer

2010-01-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

Go to Woman's Day give aways

Five lucky winners will receive an Artisan 810 All-in-One Printer from Epson. Approx. retail value: $299; epson.com

Don't ya just love color!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Ducks!!

2009-12-31T20:45:00.001-08:00

May you be. . . . .

2009-12-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

May you be inspired to create something new and different in twenty-ten. Creative inspiration may come from many sources but creation comes from within.

Learn from tutorials and create from your own soul, may your aspirations come true.

Happy New Year!

Free Tutorials

2009-12-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

Chain maille: You have some choices; I've posted free tutorials on the right side bar. You can buy tutorials at JewelryLessons.com, bless them for trying to make a buck with copywritten designs they sell, or you can go to the chain maille organization and get TONS of instructions on all kinds of patterns, techniques and so on all for free.

The newbies jewelry designers/artist coming on board everyday should really do some research on "how to's" for free before you jump into buying tutorials that actually have been copied from magazines and other free tuorials posted all over the web.

Wire wrapping: for the most part you can find easy to follow instructions all over the place if you are new to the craze. More advanced wire wrappers can look at something and duplicate it. Good Luck and above all learn something new everyday.

Read Before you Buy! or Buyer Beware

2009-12-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

I hope this reaches the newbie jewelry designers/artists out there who are seeking a successful on line jewelry business.

I received "another" email from someone who is selling "how to make money selling jewelry" (sigh), I actually removed my email from her list but I still get the "end all" emails with sloppy videos, nonsensical verbage and way to much information about her personal (unrelated to jewelry) activites. I'm a let us get to the point person and it didn't take long to remove my email address.

What I want is for you to read is this: "What it means: In other words, I can’t guarantee anything, and furthermore, I can neither confirm nor deny that I know what I’m talking about. I can assure you that I only have the best intents and my sincere purpose in creating these lessons is to help you learn how to increase your business success. But even though I have your best interests in mind, you still are responsible for your own actual results.

Now I ask you would you pay money for this? I hope not and as she often says: "Holy Crap" I don't know if it's holy or not but I do know it is crap! What really seems unethical is this: "sincere purpose in creating these lessons is to help you learn how to increase your business success"; me thinks it's the money you spend buying the program or lessons or what ever else she is selling. Why? This is the "Earnings Disclaimer" Ufdah.

Merry Chirstmas

2009-12-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

May you all be as blessed as I have been.

Merry Christmas!

My little claim to fame in Bead Trends December 2009

2009-12-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

Attention Winter Lovers

2009-11-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

Timberline Lodge is open, Mt. Hood just outside of Portland, Oregon is open for winter fun. Three places to ski on Mt. Hood including the Legendary Timberline Lodge, great history and snow is perfect right now!

View over 700 pictures of Mt. Hood and Timberline Lodge!!

Nothing Goes to Waste not even Pine Needles!

2009-11-20T18:29:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you decide to be a poor country folk artist?

With little money (if any) you must be creative. Use your resources.
This artist did just that.
What do you find in the mountains of Idaho ?.........PINE TREES.
You're thinking something made out of wood......Right?
Not even close.
These bears are made from Pine Needles!!!!
A couple of hundred thousand of them in one large bear.
The pine needles were gathered off the ground, sorted, washed, trimmed and hand woven.
Over 8 months in making the life size bear!

One Pretty Thing

2009-10-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I get the urge to write something hopefully to help someone. I've been encouraged to participate by a favorite author, blogger, jewelry artist (I could go on) Rena Klingenberg, Publisher of creative ideas for making and selling jewelry. Rena is the kind of person that inspires.

So when I found out that my "copy and paste" jewelry business inventory system is one of the featured links on the October 8 "Crafty Reading Roundup" on OnePrettyThing blog I thought it would be a good thing to let everyone know about the "One Pretty Thing" website and blog that I did not know about;

I hope you enjoy it. There is a great deal of information there!

Thank you Shiela from makingjewelrysupplies.com.

2009-10-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

We operate the largest Jewelry Supplies website featuring more than 30,000+ blogs. Our site averages 200,000+ uniques visitors per month. As a kind note We have featured your blog at http://makingjewelrysupplies.com/blog_awards/index.php?id=1411

How to make a mess! Wire Wrapping at it's Worst

2009-10-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

This short video is how NOT to wire wrap. I don't mean to waste your time but this is a perfect example of wire wrapping at it's worst. Please avoid this type of wire wrapping there is zero craftsmanship.

As the populariaty of wire wrapping grows, and the desire to make a few bucks making and selling jewelry; this is what happens. People then wonder why they can't sell there "one of a kind", "inspirational" "best" jewelry.

How to wire wrap a briolette

2009-10-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

If you want to have a really nice look to the wire wrapped briolette thread tiny beads on either side of the briolette. Why because the wire, usually very thin has a tendency to get out of shape. In other words it is ugly. Then after you connect the two wires by wrapping, put another tiny bead on the wire before you make your top loop. The reason is that the bottom wrap and the top wrap show way too much wire showing. The tiny bead will take the eye away from all of those wraps.

Briolettes can be tricky, start out using copper wire before you dive in to wrapping something to sell. Practice, practice, practice to make it near to perfect. And please, don't use the excuse "its hand made" for sloppy work.

This technique is duly noted in many "high-end" jewelry designer pieces. Kick it up a notch, go the extra mile and make your jewelry something better. Can't figure out why your jewelry isn't selling?

This video is good for learning the technique. The finished product is unacceptable for excellent craftsmanship.

Excellent Video for Wire Weaving

2009-10-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

This tutorial shows you how to use Cindy's Braider: Wire Weaving Kit. This innovative kit contains everything you need, except the wire itself, to make wire woven rings, bracelets and more!

Excellence

2009-09-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

Mt. Rainier puts on a show!

2009-09-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

By Scott Sistek

I wish I could have seen this myself.

Welcome to Girls Night Out

2009-09-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

You are welcome to view the videos posted, look over my work and check out anything else you'd like to view.

I have another web design site at WebSitesWork.blogspot.com where you can get some handy applications to make your website or blog even better.

If you are a home based jeweler you might like a listing on Home Based Jeweler's Showcase.

View Private Stock Jewelry Here

Girls Night Out!! WooHoo

2009-09-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

GO Here to View Blog

If you are a female business owner or have a craft that you sell online, you'll be able to feature your business in an Expo list that will be posted on Girls Night Out. On the said weekend (September 26th), You will post a feature of your business on your blog, (details, links, photos, etc) that will introduce visitors to you and what you do. You can also host giveaways and drawings if you wish, but it's not a requirement. Visitors and hostesses participating in the event will visit all the shops over the weekend (beyond if necessary) and learn about what you do and what you have to offer!

Never Give Up

2009-09-16T19:05:00.001-07:00

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he/she grows up.” - Pablo Picasso

Pricing Jewelry

2009-09-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

An excellent article I agree with about Pricing Jewelry. Check it out.

I see far too many home based jewelry creators pricing their jewelry way to low, however on the other hand I have observed jewelry poorly crafted, and cheapish way over priced.

"People associate quality with price."
Dr. David Weiman, marketing director of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine for more than 20 years, shares strategies and techniques for boosting your sales of handcrafted artisan jewelry!

Make the 4 in 1 Pattern

2009-09-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Make the 4 in 1 pattern and knit small pieces together.

Get ready for a chuckle, check out the pliers.
This particular video, for me, was understandable, crude, but understandable, LOL. I have a hard time with written directions and confusing still picture examples, this video seems to get through my grey matter. Hope it helps you all.

Live and Learn Everyday!

2009-09-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

“If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.” - Dale Carnegie

If you are going to make jewelry, then get really good at it!
Design is more than stringing beads; wire wrapping is more than a few pieces of twisted wire wrapped around a stone.

Making the Rosette Component for Jewelry Design

2009-09-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3AIOmKPiS8

Full Persian Chain Maille Tutorial

2009-09-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Not all videos are created equal, this is a good one. My Live and Learn Series.

Chain maille weaves can be difficult to start. This tutorial shows an easy way for the full Persian using two wire ties. The text version with still photographs is here " http://www.beadinggem.com

Stringing Knots between Beads

2009-09-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

Bead - Stringing Knots between Beads

Finally, something that is going to sell!

2009-09-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

As seen and noted big time in Elle! Congrats Ladies, may the force be with you~

http://www.beadinggem.com/2009_08_01_archive.html

New Hampshire Rhyolite

2009-08-23T15:26:00.001-07:00

Every now and then you run into a stone that is just so beautiful and scenic it doesn't seem real. But, it is real Rhyolite Jasper is one of those stones you can find that doesn't cost an arm and two legs that is just plain awesome.

This is what makes jewelry making fun for me, finding stones like this that you really don't want to sell. But then for the right price. . . . .

Sometimes there are problems

2009-08-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there are problems with the hues that the camera picks or doesn't pick up the true color. There are times when I try every type of light and angle I can think of and this is one of those times. I just can't get the color right.

Oh, poor me, lol.

May the Sun Be With You

2009-08-23T15:18:00.001-07:00

This is the coolest sunshine jasper I've ever run across. Love it and it looks great all wrapped up and dripping in gold (14/20).

Snowflakes in August

2009-08-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

More work to do, the store hosing some of my work is moving uptown to Washington Square. That makes for a great opportunity to update my pictures and index everything like I should have done a some time ago.

So today, I've spent most of the day taking pictures, cleaning and making a few adjustments. It's a perfect day in Portland!

Just in Case You haven't Heard

2009-08-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Jewelry Artist and Author Rena Klingenberg.

You can jump-start your home jewelry business with thousands of the best tips for marketing handcrafted jewelry.

If you'd like to receive email updates on new techniques for the business of jewelry art, you can subscribe to her free newsletter, "Jewelry Business Success News".

And for quick gems of home jewelry business advice, tips, news, and updates that you won't find anywhere else, you'll enjoy making regular visits to her popular Jewelry Business Blog.

Looking for specific jewelry business information? There's a ton of it here! You can search this site or browse through a complete listing of all 1,000+ of our articles in the sitemap.

She adds new articles there regularly, with information on jewelry home parties, photographing and scanning jewelry, creative jewelry sales, making your own jewelry tags and earring cards, setting up and maintaining your own successful jewelry website, cheap jewelry display ideas, professional looking jewelry packaging, consigning and wholesaling jewelry to shops and galleries, handling taxes, permits and other business matters, and more.

She even tells you about all the mistakes she has made in her own jewelry business, and how you can avoid them.

Here is her Link

It must be the heat

2009-07-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of chuckling to myself because of my color choice for the new remake of my PrivateStockJewelry.com website. I keep coming back to the same color choice of hot colors when my favorites are cool blues and turquoise. LOL

I've learned quite a bit doing my research for WebSitesWork.blogspot.com, quite a few effective short cuts, ideas about different designs and most of all traffic.

I still have a long way to go, many pictures to take, add to cart buttones, oh my, the list is endless!

HOT-HOT-HOT

2009-07-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

It is really, really HOT in Portland Oregon

Jeweler's Showcase

2009-07-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Jeweler's Showcase has bloomed into something unexpected. We are getting super traffic as far as I am concerned mainly because the site has only been up a month and there have been almost 1200 new visitors and over 4200 pageviews. Hoorah, I can say it's a success! And thanks to all the Home Based Jewelers who provided me with "good" links, great banners and text, you Jewelers Rock! Now it's up to the Jewelers to post their details under the comments to their post.

New subject: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up.

There is a great amount of discussion about lack of traffic. I am a numbers person and firmly believe that if enough people see what you are selling someone in that crowd is looking for what you have. I've posted numerous articles and posts on my WebSitesWork blog about traffic and tools available to help you get the traffic you need. And like so many people that have said this before me, "it takes time and hard work" I am continually looking for ways to improve the traffic to my sites, and to the sites that I build. Enjoying the research helps too.

The "never give up" attitude is what sucessful people have, when they fall they get right back up and maybe start over again. As well, I am completely overhauling my Private Stock Jewelery website, I've changed this website to be wider (that took some doing, considering it's not my html and I didn't want the whole site to crash) and one other site that really needs updating. Yep, that is going to take some time.

Home Based Jeweler's Showcase
Private Stock Jewelry.com
Web Sites Work.blogspot.com
Millie's Overstocked in Rocks.bogspot.com
Wear My Blues.blogspot.com

Woo-hoo

2009-07-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm exited to announce that Bead Trends is publishing one of my turquoise pieces in the December issue. (I rally am exicted)

The publisher requested that the piece be removed so I complied.

This has been an awesome week for me. I've had more good things happen than I could have imagined. I am very excited also how well the Home Based Jeweler's Showcase blog has been received. We are getting super traffic. If you haven't joined there is no time like the present. See the site for details.

Val Verde Turquoise Deservingly in Gold

2009-06-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

I just can't get enough turquoise!

Rhyolite from New Hampshire

2009-06-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

Mustard quartzite wrapped in Silver

2009-06-25T20:50:00.000-07:00

Lotus Jasper

2009-06-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

There are numerous names for this jasper, I like Lotus, the streks of lavendar and green are outstanding. The top has moss green agates.

Blue Lace Agate wrapped in Gold

2009-06-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

Turquoise Set in Copper

2009-06-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Loads of Turquoise and Copper, more to come!

Gold Tigereye Wrapped in Gold

2009-06-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

Dreams in Gold

Chocolate Chain

2009-06-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

Chocolate (Yummm) Chain and Copper Accent, byzantine weave

Brazilian Hues of Blue and Green Agate

2009-06-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Brazilian Agate and Gold (14/20) Love the blues

Gold Hoops and Carnelian Gold Wrapped Bead

2009-06-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

This was a challenge, one wire half hard, wrapped continually including the ring at the bottom and the earwire, all in one piece. I of course, wrapped the hoop with half round for a more finished appearance.

Turquoise Nuggets and Copper

2009-06-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

2009-06-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jasper Desert Sands and Gold (14/20)

Gold Bracelet

2009-05-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

A favorite, unfortunately the matching necklace was stolen.

Crystal Point Wrapped in Gold

2009-05-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sold

Three Strand Turquoise Bracelet

2009-05-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sold

Gold Bangle

2009-05-30T09:13:00.001-07:00

Sold

Turquoise in Gold

2009-05-30T09:05:00.001-07:00

Sold

O - Precious are the Pearls

2009-05-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

In Gold

Picture Jasper

2009-05-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

With a created Ruby accent all wrapped up in Gold

Teal Blue (dyed) Mountain Jade

2009-05-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

sold

Sterling Wrapped

2009-05-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ocean Blue Quarts and Sterling

2009-05-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Just Sterling

2009-05-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Purple CZ's Faceted

2009-05-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Mixed Metal Dingle Dangle

2009-05-03T12:26:00.001-07:00

Heavy Gauge 14/20 Gold and Sterling Silver Earring

2009-05-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Mookaite jasper, also known as mookite, mookalite, mookerite,
moakite, moukalite and moukaite. However, mookaite is considered the correct
spelling and is named after the local area it comes from, Mooka Creek in the
Kennedy Ranges near Gascoyne Junction which is about 100 miles inland from the
coastal town of Carnarvon in Western Australia.
Mookaite is found only in Australia and is actually a fossiliferous sedimentary rock & it is reasonably common to find cavities left by decomposed belemnite casts or in some rare cases, impressions of ammonites. (Windalia Radiolarite) Microscopic examination shows this rock consists of the remains of tiny organisms known as radiolaria that have an unusual skeletal structure of opaline silica. Billions of these little critters were deposited as sediment in the shallow areas of ancient sea beds. When the seas retreated, these sediments were cemented into solid rock by silica carried in groundwater. The type and degree of silicification varies from place to place, forming opalite, chert and chalcedony.

Ten Hearts Together Forever

2009-05-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

Sterling and Created Ruby Necklace

The
ruby is a precious gemstone that has a long history as a symbol of love.
Natural rubies are exceptionally rare and therefore very expensive. Created
rubies are stones that are man-made but have the same mineral composition as
naturally occurring rubies. When you buy a created ruby, you are buying a real
ruby. It just wasn't dug from the ground. Created rubies have many advantages.
For one, created rubies are not mined from the earth and so they don't have a
negative environmental impact. Also since created rubies are more affordable,
you are able to purchase a larger and better quality stone.

Black and Gold, Yummm

2009-05-02T10:10:00.001-07:00

Oh, by the way

2009-04-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

Anyone wanting a stat counter should check out Statcounter.com; it really gives a great deal of info especially for blogs. Check it out.