Celebrate simplicity July 28, 2007

Sometimes simple is best. And that statement coming from someone who LOVES sparkle, who would encrust every surface with Swarovski crystals and who honks for shiny objects!

I spend hours of my time scouring the jewelry supply houses for previously unseen nuggets of shiney goodness. I like my handmade jewelry pieces to be unique and different – my greatest joy is when someone stops dead in their tracks to compliment a piece of my jewelry and comments that they’ve never seen anything like it! I like to try new jewelry making techniques that I can use in new designs – perhaps incorporating them in a way no one has thought of.

Until two weeks ago. It was a lazy sunday and I felt inspired to make something. I trotted out to my jewelry making spot (couch!), grabbed my beadboard, my tools, some wire and my handy-dandy new nylon wire pliers. I looked at my fattest piece of wire and started getting creative. Here’s the result!

They’re absolutely stunning in person – simple and yet so impactful.

I remembered a tutorial that I had done online for french earring wires and quickly whipped up those to match the earrings. Earring wires are the portion of the earring that go into your ear. Everything on this pair of earrings was handmade by me – and it felt so good.

You see – like all jewelry designers – I do buy some premade components like earring wires, clasps, pre-made chain and jump rings. They are of a high quality and add a nice finished look to a project. They’re also pretty expensive – so I have to invest alot of capital and time to go purchase these items. When I run out in the middle of some great jewelry design, it’s inconvenient and disappointing. So creating these earring wires was both fun and liberating. If I run out of earring wires, I can make my own!

No swarovski crystals, no intricate wire work, no dazzling combination of colors – just simplicity. And the earrings look gorgeous!

I’ve also created them in silver, and added matching necklaces to the collection. And as you can see on my site – I didn’t leave well enough alone and also created a version with little Swarovski crystals on the end.  Take a look at the beautiful handmade earrings on my site.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::  ::

5 Reasons to buy Handmade Jewelry July 24, 2007

1. It’s made with love by someone with a passion for jewelry.

If you’re buying jewelry for someone as a gift, chances are that they are a fan of jewelry. They most likely notice jewelry wherever they go and will buy themselves something if they like it. That person will appreciate that you took the time to look for a unique and handmade piece of jewelry for them, and that you didn’t just run to the mall for 15 minutes to get the shopping over with. They will appreciate the time and care that went into creating a piece of beautiful and unique handmade jewelry.

 2. It’s unique and one-of-a-kind.

The great thing about handmade items is that they are creative and unusual – not something that you’d find at the mall or yet another chain store. How fabulous is it when someone compliments your style and remarks “Wow – that is a gorgeous necklace, I’ve never seen anything like it!” Your personal style is just that – personal. And while it’s difficult to stand out in an increasingly manufactured world, a piece of handmade jewelry will add that unique touch to your outfits.

3. Handmade Jewelry is Quality Jewelry.

Most jewelry artisans take pride in knowing that their pieces will stand the test of time and be passed down through generations.  When I wear a piece of jewelry I inherited from my grandmother or aunt, I feel like I’m carrying around a piece of their love with me. I smile when the memories flood me when I look at the locket my grandma gave me. Buying handmade jewelry ensures that you will have jewelry that will stand the test of time. Whether you pass it on to the next generation, or you just enjoy wearing a piece frequently – knowing that it was created to last a long time gives you the confidence to wear it more often and enjoy it.

I make a prototype of all of my jewelry pieces and wear it around for a while. Based on how the piece wears, I may make modifications to the design or even decide to scrap it. I’ve often found gorgeous vintage beads, or a particularly unusual chain style, only to find that the piece did not withstand the rigors of me wearing it every day. Anything that I sell on my site has to be both strong and beautiful – I confidently send out my jewelry into the world knowing that someone will enjoy it every day and that it will look as good as the day I created it.

4. Handmade Jewelry can be customized.

Giving a gift should be done out of love and affection for the recipient of that gift. I love to give gifts almost as much as I love to receive gifts! And I spend alot of time and energy planning my friends and loved ones’ gifts. I like to take note of their favorite things yearround, and tuck that information away for gift-giving times. That way, I can pop up with the perfect gift that says “I took the time to get to you know”.

The wonderful thing about Handmade Jewelry is that it can be customized. Commission a necklace with a blue chalcedony stone for your best friend - to remind her of that fabulous vacation you both took to Cancun in college - where the color of the stone matches that of the ocean you so admired. Or buy a pair of sterling silver peridot earrings for your niece knowing that it’s her favorite stone because it matches the color of her eyes. There are so many ways to show someone that you really thought about their gift!

5. Buying Indie supports your community.

By purchasing a piece of handmade jewelry you are supporting your community. You are supporting the artisans who can practice their beloved trade and make a fair living wage. You are supporting the charities that the artisans support (I personally support the Vixen Racing “Racing Towards a Cure” foundation - which raises money for breast cancer). You are supporting the idea of original, inspired design. And that feels good.

Support your indie community by visiting sites like Indiecollective.net. And please take a look at my handmade jewelry at RomeoandJewels.com.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::