Temporary Insanity

Filed under: Uncategorized

It’s been a while since I put out a blog. I am in the middle of so many things right now you couldn’t imagine. I have some beautiful new jewelry to list, but I need to take better photos.  I have new guest artists to introduce to you and items of theirs to list in the store, but I am going to wait until June, and here is the reason why.

I am continuing the Search Engine Optimization for my website so I can be listed higher in the search engines, AND to improve my page rankings. I recently had my site optimized, but it wasn’t done completely and in some cases it was done improperly. So, when I thought I was hiring a new company for SEO Maintenance, I was very surprised to learn that before I purchased a maintenance plan I needed to have the site further optimized “on-page” to correct some things that were done wrong before, and to complete other things that were never done in the first place!

So, please be patient with me while I wait until June to list new products and feature new artists. I want to have the best site that I can and that is going to take both time and money. The good news is that in the mean time I can make a lot of new things so that in June I will have a TON of new items to post in the store and introduce to you!

In the midst of all of this I am still planning our wedding, which will take place on August 1st. It’s very exciting, but it has been a lot of work because we already have 2 small children and we live a “Married Life” every day (that means we don’t get much of a break for leisure activity! I know…we’re ass backwards). I am sure that things will turn out perfectly, as I have a wedding planner doing all of the research to alleviate some of the stress. I just need to make the selections

Thank you all for your continued patience and support. In the mean time I will post another blog with the FREE GIFT winner for this month, and a picture of their prize tomorrow. Stay tuned….

Tags: featured artist, Free Gift, guest artist, new items, SEO Maintenance, SEO Optimization

Happy Easter! (and other Holidays)

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

Happy Easter! (and other Holidays too!)

It’s been a while since I have put out a blog. I have new items from my “Breakfast at Bella’s” collection that still need to be added, but I am finding that time is scarce since I had my second child. Once I photograph and re-size these items I will add them to the store for all to see (and buy!) Also I have been collaborating with Laurie from Mermaid Glass and our ideas are complete and the beads are being made for my next collection. I promise to have the breakfast pieces up first though.

I am obviously still trying to find myself as a jewelry designer among other things. There are so many beautiful mediums to use within a creation, I want to experiment with all of them before settling down into one specific area, which I swear to the almighty poker gods I will do one day.

To keep with my new tradition I would like to introduce you to my featured Guest Jeweler this month. She is award winning artist, Ann Marie Hodrick

Ann Marie Hodrick has been artistic from birth, developing her creativity in one medium or another all her life.

Ann Marie crafted as a young child, developing a keen sense of color and fine motor skills.  In high school she pursued the fine arts of painting, printmaking, ceramics and silversmithing.   She continued her exploration of these mediums while at Loyola University in New Orleans pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts. After earning her BA degree she went to work as a video editor choosing to voice her creativity on television while earning a regular income to help support her growing family, all the while never losing her artistic desire.  Her current foray into jewelry design is simply a part of her life-long dedication to artistic expression. She has won multiple national awards for her jewelry designs.

Ann Marie currently lives in Oakland, Ca. with her husband and two teenage sons. As for her philosophy, Ann Marie uses skills from all areas of her past art studies. She has synthesized a unique style, blending her romantic nature and experience in the arts with a fascination for the art of personal adornment. Nature and architectural design inspire much of Ann Marie’s work. It is because of this influence that she does not confine herself to one specific jewelry technique, allowing the materials and stones to inspire her final design.

This design is one of my favorites from Ann Marie because of its simplicity and richness. Please click on the photo to view the item in our store.

If any of you are interested in being a featured artist on my site, or you know anyone who might be interested, please contact me for details on how to get started!

Tags: Easter, gemstones, glass jewelry, gold, guest artist, guest jeweler, Necklaces, new collection